← 003-025003-027 →

Conversation 003-026

TapeTape 3StartWednesday, May 12, 1971 at 5:29 PMEndWednesday, May 12, 1971 at 5:31 PMTape start time00:28:11Tape end time00:29:18ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Arends, Leslie C.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon calls House Minority Whip Leslie C. Arends to congratulate him on securing a narrow legislative victory regarding the supersonic transport (SST) funding. Arends explains how strategic procedural maneuvers, including securing pairs from the Illinois delegation—specifically Representatives Philip M. Crane, Robert H. Michel, and Harold R. Collier—were instrumental in the vote. The two discuss the importance of selecting favorable House-Senate conference committee members to maintain their momentum against the Senate.

Supersonic transportLegislative strategyHouse of RepresentativesCongressional procedureIllinois delegation
AudioNARA Description

On May 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Leslie C. Arends talked on the telephone from 5:29 pm to 5:31 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 003-026

Date: May 12, 1971
Time: 5:29 pm - 5:31 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Leslie C. Arends.

[See Conversation No. 499-002B]

     Supersonic transport [SST] vote
          -President's response
          -Arends’ location
                -Burning Tree Country Club people
          -Possible House-Senate conference committee action
          -Morale in House

            -Illinois delegation
                  -Philip M. Crane, Robert H. Michel, and Harold R. Collier
                        -Pairs
            -President's response
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Congressman Ahrens is on the line, sir.
Yeah.
Hello.
Hello.
Well, you won a close one.
Oh, Mr. President.
Yeah, I just wanted to tell you how pleased I was, and I've been trying to reach you earlier, but you were running around.
Yeah, yeah.
You've been out of Burning Tree?
No, no.
Not with that.
Not with that.
Well, that was a wonderful job.
Wonderful job.
Real hard work.
Yeah, it's great.
Now, you know, just get good conferees, because we'll force that Senate, you know, even if we lose it there, you can't recede completely, can you?
No, no.
No, sir.
No, sir.
Never.
No, that's right.
No, we kind of got them on a little bit.
How do our guys feel now that they won it?
Do they feel good?
A lot of the boys feel real good about it, Jan.
I think some of the boys who even voted against us are a little happy about it now, you know.
Great.
We changed four of them in Illinois.
We got four boys from Illinois, Michael and Collier and Crane.
Isn't that wonderful?
Got them to withdraw their no votes and vote present.
We got pairs for them.
Good.
That made the difference.
That's great.
Oh, yeah.
It was great.
Well, I'm glad it worked out well.
I appreciate it, Les.
Bye.
You do.
Gosh, we're on the team.
Right.
Bye.
Thanks, Mr. President.
← 003-025003-027 →