Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 002-116
Date: Friday, May 7, 1971 at 10:46 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Green, Edith
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/002-116
National Archives Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417188191 (NAID 417188191)

This transcript was made by an AI model listening to the recording (google/gemini-3.8-flash) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Speaker names are the model's inference. Verify against the audio before citing.

[0:00] NIXON: Yeah.
[0:02] OPERATOR: I have Congresswoman Green on the line, sir.
[0:04] NIXON: Yeah.
[0:05] OPERATOR: Go ahead, please.
[0:07] NIXON: Hello?
[0:08] GREEN: Good morning, Mr. President.
[0:09] NIXON: Morning. I understand you're on your way to Puerto Rico.
[0:13] GREEN: I am, indeed.
[0:14] NIXON: I just wanted you to know that I noted in my news summary that you had stood up on the floor and said some things about some of our little friends that were here, and I thought it took a lot of courage. And I want to thank you very much.
[0:23] GREEN: Well, Mr. President, I just wanted you to know that you have my support in what you're trying to do. I am—
[0:29] NIXON: Well, we're coming along, and that let me say that I was I was talking to some of our other friends, you know. I mean, matter of fact, Jerry last night, a few others and and a couple of my Democratic friends, and I said, "You know, look, some of you are taking a lot of heat now, but I think you're going to look better later. That's all. You know, we just trying trying to do the right thing."
[0:44] GREEN: That's right. No problems these days are very easy of solution.
[0:48] NIXON: That's right.
[0:49] GREEN: Well, I had indicated to Charlotte Reid and to Margaret Heckler—
[0:52] NIXON: Right.
[0:53] GREEN: that if I can be of assistance in stopping some of this nonsense, I will do everything that is possible.
[0:58] NIXON: Well, I appreciate it, and I know that it I know that, too, it it's difficult because we we, of course, we try to I'm doing it we're trying to keep this out of the partisan arena, and, frankly, without the support of many of our Democratic friends, we couldn't make it at all. But I do appreciate it, and I I actually think that
[1:16] NIXON: that that these that our our police people and the rest, they had to they had to they had to, of course, keep the city going, but I think really rather than getting a few slams from people, they deserve some commendation for being you know, they had restraint, and yet they were firm.
[1:34] GREEN: I completely—
[1:35] NIXON: Don't you think so?
[1:36] GREEN: Yes, I just absolutely agree. Let me also say to you, if I may without being presumptuous—
[1:42] NIXON: Yeah. Sure.
[1:43] GREEN: I really at this point have no particular political ambitions at all, and I have said many on many occasions that I'm getting a little bit weary of the partisan rhetoric. A war that you did not inherit. I voted in '65 against the resolution that was earmarked for Vietnam.
[2:02] NIXON: Oh, yeah.
[2:03] GREEN: And if I can be help in this regard, in trying to tone down the partisan aspects, I'm willing to do it. You can tell Jerry Ford or—
[2:10] NIXON: Well, that's I appreciate it, and we'll I won't We will call on you, though, only if we have to. [Laughs] But I know you—
[2:20] GREEN: Well, I— At all times, I you know, if a Democrat can be of honest assistance.
[2:24] NIXON: Sure. Oh, more more than some of our friends on the other side. [Laughter] Have a good time down there.
[2:29] GREEN: Thank you, and it was most gracious of you to call.
[2:31] NIXON: I'm fine. I hope I didn't interrupt your flight. I understand you're at Friendship.