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Conversation 006-068

TapeTape 6StartWednesday, June 30, 1971 at 7:44 PMEndWednesday, June 30, 1971 at 7:46 PMTape start time01:17:28Tape end time01:19:42ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Shultz, George P.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and George Shultz discuss the positive drop in the unemployment rate from 6.2 percent in May to 5.6 percent in June. They deliberate on the best public relations strategy to manage the upcoming release of these economic figures. Nixon concludes that the administration should underplay the announcement and let the statistical improvement speak for itself.

unemployment rateeconomic policypublic relationslabor force statisticsNixon administration
AudioNARA Description

On June 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 7:44 pm to 7:46 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-068 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 6-68

Date: June 30, 1971
Time: 7:44 pm - 7:46 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George P. Shultz.

     National economy
          -Unemployment rate
          -Compilation
          -Consumer price index
          -Retail sales
          -Announcement of unemployment rate
          -Administration public relations
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Hi, George.
I know.
and I'm sure that's partly responsible for all sorts of qualifications, but nevertheless, there it is.
It couldn't be totally responsible, could it, George?
No, it isn't totally responsible.
Probably 3% of it, huh?
Well... Oh, you never know.
In fact, it's just a poll anyway, isn't it?
No, it's a pretty good, I think it's a good sample.
These things go, it's the best sample that there is of
6.2 was in May, and 5.6 in June.
Oh, boy.
Then, of course, it'll go up from there.
It probably will.
There was a greater seasonal drop in the labor force, and the employment did not go up seasonally adjusted.
It went down, or it went up tremendously unadjusted.
What is the situation?
Well, that's good news.
That'll come out Friday?
That's great.
Well, the thing to do now is to have that sort of underplayed.
Don't you think?
Just let the figure speak for itself, or do you think you ought to brag about it?
No, I think that it'll be widely played.
Right.
Well, that's great.
Okay, George.
Okay.
Okay, thank you.
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