Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 006-113
Date: Friday, July 2, 1971 at 7:13 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-113
National Archives Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417189117 (NAID 417189117)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] The most important thing is, and this is a must, I will not take no for an answer on this.
[0:18] And then he's to be given a polygraph.
[0:20] Now, if he refuses to take the polygraph, he's out.
[0:23] If he takes it and it lies, he's out.
[0:25] Is that clear?
[0:27] Yes.
[0:27] Now, can't we do something?
[0:28] I'm not going to take no for an answer on this.
[0:30] I know Schultz was trying to wiggle off the hook, and so was Hodgson when I talked to him, but I'm not going to take no for an answer on this.
[0:36] And I want to raise hell about this, John.
[0:38] Well, we have to to get these guys along.
[0:40] We can't.
[0:40] How the hell can you do it otherwise?
[0:43] I mean, these guys, what the Christ's the matter with Schultz?
[0:45] Has he got any guts?
[0:46] No, he wants to be sure he has all the facts.
[0:49] All right, I got the facts.
[0:51] I heard what they said.
[0:52] I read the release.
[0:54] The same with Hodgson.
[0:56] I talked to Hodgson myself.
[0:57] He knows our ideas.
[0:59] There's the thing.
[1:00] Don't you agree?
[1:05] We have no reason not to, haven't we?
[1:07] He was ordered not to do this.
[1:10] If he did it, he could say, no, were you willing to take a polygraph?
[1:14] He says, no, you're out.
[1:16] He says, yes, fine, take it.
[1:17] Fair enough?
[1:18] Yes, sir.
[1:19] You see anything wrong with that?
[1:20] No, I don't.
[1:20] I don't.
[1:21] I think it's a civil service employee.
[1:24] I understand that.
[1:25] It's never like we can translate it.
[1:30] I'm not going to have it anymore.
[1:32] He is an all-out left-wing son of a bitch who's again against us for 20 years.
[1:36] George knows this.
[1:37] I've told George this.
[1:38] George doesn't believe it.
[1:40] But it is true.
[1:43] I believe... See, Chuck, I gave this order two days ago.
[1:52] And on this test, we screw it up.
[1:56] What do you think it's going to do to John Connolly's morale?
[1:58] See my point?
[1:58] What's going to be the others that are going to give us the business?
[2:01] We have got to.
[2:02] Don't you agree?
[2:03] We've got to be tough on this one.
[2:05] Mr. President, I told you the best thing you've done was the Monday meeting with the economists and the candidates.
[2:09] That was talk.
[2:10] These people have got to know who's running the government.
[2:13] That's right.
[2:13] Now, we're running the government now.
[2:18] On everybody who had the information, they're going to take polygraphs tomorrow.
[2:21] Is that clear?
[2:22] Yes, sir.
[2:23] And let them leak it.
[2:24] I don't care.
[2:24] I don't tell George that it's suppression.
[2:27] It's bullshit.
[2:28] I want to know who did this.
[2:30] Now, God damn it, I want to find out.
[2:32] Is that clear?
[2:32] Yes, sir.
[2:33] Okay, let's go.