← 002-073002-075 →

Conversation 002-074

TapeTape 2StartTuesday, May 4, 1971 at 4:20 PMEndTuesday, May 4, 1971 at 4:22 PMTape start time02:54:00Tape end time02:56:46ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Washington, Walter E.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AudioNARA Description

On May 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Walter E. Washington talked on the telephone from 4:20 pm to 4:22 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 002-074 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 2-74

Date: May 4, 1971
Time: 4:20 pm - 4:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Walter E. Washington.

[See Conversation No. 490-24C]

[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under court order from
December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums, et al. v. James M.
Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records Administration produced this
transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

                                                                                               Back to Top
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

yeah mayor washington mr president yeah hello hello mr mayor hello mr president yes i wanted you to know that uh all the reports we have of this uh the activities the last couple of days have been that you and your staff have just done a splendid job and i'm most grateful well and uh i'm particularly you know the it seems to me very very interesting to note too that it's
That is a very small participation.
You know, they were trying to get a lot of the black militants in.
But this is mainly a white operation, isn't it?
That is.
At this point, we've just had a few that we've been able to provide.
Well, I know, but it's just minimal, minimal.
And that's to their great credit that they didn't join with this rat pack.
I think it is.
And I think the citizens here have been exceedingly responsive and positive.
What has happened on tourism?
How bad has it hurt you?
Well, it's hurt us pretty bad.
It came at a wrong time, didn't it?
Yes, at the wrong time.
It was just building up to, I'd say, about 200,000 in the cherry blossom period over last year.
Sure.
And it just died.
It just dies, huh?
Yeah, it just took a dip that left us in...
in real bad shape.
Isn't that a shame?
Most of our facilities have had to be used in this to deal with this situation.
We have a lot of citizens.
Maybe this week if we can, I think this could, I hope we'll finish it and then you get back and make up for it in the next two weeks, huh?
Well, I hope.
May is a good month there.
Yes, it is.
And what we hope, Mr. President, is that
that it won't take a lot of time that people will realize this is over.
No, no, no.
We'll advertise that fact, too.
I hope so.
I think after tomorrow, which is their last day, presumably, we'll just say, now, look here, everything's fine.
We're going to go ahead with this big salute to agriculture here on Friday on the White House lawn, and that'll be well advertised.
that'll make people may i uh say to the civilian employees mr president yes you tell i want you to tell all the civilian employees that i'm most grateful to two things one for their conduct for the way they handle the situation and two for the fact that they came and and came on the job and we're not uh despite whatever whatever views they had on policies that they they they recognize that there's a wrong and a right way to
do it and that they they weren't intimidated and they went to work and did their jobs and that's to their great credit they kept the city running and indeed and that we appreciate it would you do that yes you put you put that out and put it out to the press too i'll put that out to the fine
← 002-073002-075 →