Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 4 › Conversation 004-017

Nixon phone call with Hoover on May Day demonstrations and Law and order

Tuesday, June 1, 1971 · 10:23 PM–10:29 PM ET · White House Telephone ·6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Hoover, J. EdgarConversation004-017 onTape 4 (tape position 01:00:27–01:06:08)StartTuesday, June 1, 1971 at 10:23 PMEndTuesday, June 1, 1971 at 10:29 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 004-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover discussed the President's recent press conference, specifically his defense of law enforcement tactics used against May Day demonstrators and his firm stance against the legalization of marijuana. The two men criticized the D.C. court system, particularly Judge David L. Bazelon, while coordinating the agenda for an upcoming meeting involving police officials. Additionally, Hoover updated the President on an ongoing FBI investigation into a recent criminal incident involving Black suspects in New York.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Hello?
Edgar, I hope you noticed I backed up our people here tonight.
You know, weren't, what do you think of that press corps?
Isn't that a bunch of bastards?
Yeah.
But I was, frankly, I was glad they kept hitting that question because, frankly, I think the folks are on our side.
They don't give a, I mean, this business about picking up these people, arresting these people, what the hell are you going to do?
Let them, let them, huh?
Right?
But we have to do that.
You notice, too, I took a strong line on marijuana.
I said, you can't legalize it.
Because, you know, we've got these people at the National Institute of... That's right, it's a national problem, not just...
Well, I'd like to...
I was tempted sometimes to kick him a little harder, but I thought it was well to be a little restrained.
That's right.
That's what I felt.
They knew what I meant.
They just thought that they had us on a hook with regard to arresting people.
And by golly, what else are you going to do?
Just let them tear the city up?
It sure was.
Oh, the judges are terrible here.
We know that.
One of the reasons the lower courts will not act is they know they'll be reversed by Bazelon.
Good.
Well, we can get it.
We'll get one.
What?
That's right.
That's great.
Do the best you can.
Let's get rid of him.
Right, right.
Right.
Yeah.
Good.
We're meeting Thursday morning, right?
Good.
And you'll meet with the fellows in advance.
Yeah.
Good.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Good.
Okay.
Good job.
Good.
That's right.
Load them on.
Yeah.
Good.
It's the FBI.
I know.
Good.
Right.
I do.
Good.
Good.
What are they, black?
Oh, God.
Good.
Great, great.
If I could make it, that would be great.
Good.
Well, if you can, that would be great, Edgar.
Good.
Okay.
We'll see you Thursday then.
Thursday morning.
Bye.

NARA Description

On June 1, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover talked on the telephone from 10:23 pm to 10:29 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 004-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 4-17

Date: June 1, 1971
Time: 10:23 pm - 10:29 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with J. Edgar Hoover.

     President's previous press conference
           -Washington press corps
           -May Day demonstrators' arrests
                 -Public opinion
                 -President's response
                 -Effect on law and order nationwide
           -Marijuana
          -President's performance
          -Arrest of May Day demonstrators
                 -Conduct of police
                 -Judges
                       -David L. Bazelon

     Hoover's forthcoming meeting with President, June 3
         -Police officials attending meeting

     Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
          -Investigation of New York incident
          -Suspects in killings
               -Blacks
               -President's possible announcement

     Forthcoming Thursday meeting

Also recorded on June 2, 1971

  • 004-011 10:09 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 10:09 pm to 10:10 pm.
  • 004-012 10:10 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 10:10 pm to 10:16 pm.
  • 004-013 10:16 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 10:16 pm to 10:17 pm.
  • 004-014 10:17 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 10:17 pm to 10:20 pm.
  • 004-015 10:20 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:20 pm and 10:23 pm.
  • 004-016 10:20 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:20 pm and 10:23 pm.
  • 004-018 10:30 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 10:30 pm to 10:34 pm.
  • 004-019 10:34 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone on an unknown date, sometime between 10:34 pm on June 1, 1971 and 2:47 pm on June 3, 1971.

All 42 conversations from June 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 004-017, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/004-017 (accessed September 18, 2026).