Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 4 › Conversation 004-027

Nixon phone call with Homer on Breeder reactors and Energy policy

Friday, June 4, 1971 · 11:18 AM–11:20 AM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Homer, CraigConversation004-027 on Tape 4 (tape position 01:31:28–01:33:53)StartFriday, June 4, 1971 at 11:18 AMEndFriday, June 4, 1971 at 11:20 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 004-027 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Congressman Craig Hosmer regarding a new bipartisan initiative on breeder reactors and energy policy. Nixon emphasized his commitment to directing energy and saline water projects to Southern California to support local employment and requested that Hosmer advocate for this regional focus. The two also discussed the recent release of $16 million in federal funding for an enriching complex, which Hosmer noted would help resolve ongoing political tensions.

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
Congressman Craig Hosmer, sir.
Hello.
Mr. President.
Since you missed our meeting when we had Breeder Reactor, you know, I wanted you to know that we sent the message today, Craig, but that I just told Ziegler that I told Ziegler to tell the press that it was a bipartisan effort that you and Holifield and so forth had been bugging me about it.
The one thing I wanted to tell you, too, is that Holifield was there last night for the 8th Club thing.
and i've and i've told the people around here now this has got to be something we play very close to the vest but i am being ruthless on one thing i any any activities that we possibly can should be placed in southern california in this field and also in the saline water field good uh you know we need the jobs uh we need to stop up those air path workers now we've got some we're going to do a couple of new things on water for example and i
I've decided to throw one big plant into Southern California.
I mean, you know, a big, one of these implementing, you know what I mean?
It's just a question of how big the plant is.
And this will be one that will go there.
But in this energy field, I've told Dr. David and, of course, Seaborg and the rest that we do it.
So on the committee, every time you have a chance,
needle up and say, where is this going to be?
Let's push the California.
You do that?
Incidentally, Mr. President, I am so delighted you released that $16 million on the improvement of the enriching complex.
That handles a bad blood problem for us.
Well, they told me you were interested in it, and I said, well, if Hosmer's for it, I'm for it.
Thank you very much.
Well, good.
But I didn't want you to know, I wanted you to know that I was aware of your interest.
Oh, yes, yes.
But you were out in California at the time of the meeting, you see.
Judd has worked very closely with me.
Well, he told me, as a matter of fact, he told me on the plane going out, he says, look, Hosmer and I have just been, like, together.
that he's given.
We've got special orders this afternoon.
Good.
And he does nothing but compliment you for 17 pages.
Well, when you, if you talk, would you, you might say that I called and expressed, and pointed out that this was a bipartisan initiative and that that's, that the problem was, there are two things.
The problem of more energy is bipartisan and the problem of clean environment, a clean source of energy is bipartisan.
And this is something that we're going to work together on and all that.
Okay.
Fine and dandy, sir.
All right.
Thank you very much.

NARA Description

On June 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Craig Homer talked on the telephone from 11:18 am to 11:20 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 004-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 4-27

Date: June 4, 1971
Time: 11:18 am - 11:20 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Congressman Craig Hosmer.

[See Conversation No. 512-11]

     President's message concerning breeder reactors

     President's conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler
           -Congressional bipartisan effort
           -Chet Holifield

     Southern California location
          -Saline water
          -President's instructions to Dr. Edward E. David, Jr. and Glenn T. Seaborg

     $16 million of funds for enriching complex
          -President's release

     Holifield's role

     Hosmer's possible statement
         -Bipartisan nature of energy effect
         -More energy, cleaner environment

Also recorded on June 4, 1971

  • 512-006 11:12 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:12 am to 11:13 am.
  • 512-007 11:13 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:13 am.
  • 004-026 11:14 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:14 am.
  • 512-008 11:14 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:14 am.
  • 512-009 11:17 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:17 am.
  • 512-010 11:17 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:17 am to 11:18 am.
  • 512-011 11:18 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Craig Hosmer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:18 am to 11:20 am.
  • 512-012 11:20 AM · 43 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull, and John O. Pastore met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:20 am to 12:09 pm.

All 55 conversations from June 4, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 004-027, June 4, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/004-027 (accessed September 27, 2026).