Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 006-141
Date: Monday, July 5, 1971 at 6:16 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-141

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] You know, considering what it was, he couldn't have picked the worst thing.
[0:20] And it was quite deliberate.
[0:24] Well, he was down there trying to sell it.
[0:27] I guess he didn't.
[0:31] Well, I heard him.
[0:32] He said he was trying to get more time on them.
[0:33] But you know what happens in those cases.
[0:35] I think they designated the time and then he got his twist in there at the end.
[0:40] Actually, NBC didn't have any commentary at all.
[0:44] NBC had a two-minute report.
[0:46] I see.
[0:47] ABC and CBS referred to the voting potential.
[0:51] That's perfectly all right.
[0:53] I don't mind that.
[0:53] But NBC did not.
[0:54] NBC had one minute of you speaking and enthusiastic applause.
[0:58] The thing that both of them...
[1:00] All networks should have used was enthusiasm, and they should have used the kids singing.
[1:04] They were damn good.
[1:06] No, but they only had NBC pick the bad section.
[1:10] They didn't pick the low key.
[1:12] They didn't pick the F beat at the end.
[1:14] I mean, I know how to pick stuff.
[1:18] The NBC guy, you should tell him, he deliberately picked the wrong stuff.
[1:22] Don't you agree or not?
[1:23] Well, the feel of the room was not presented on TV then.
[1:27] what was presented on TV, I think, looked good and was... Oh, no, no, I agree, I agree.
[1:32] But having been in the room and watching the TV, you've got a totally different feeling.
[1:36] They missed the strike.
[1:39] And I think I want you to tell each of them that I think they missed it deliberately.
[1:43] All right, I will.
[1:44] Yes, sir.
[1:45] Done deliberately.
[1:50] You can just say what you're going to do.
[1:53] I will, I'll do it.
[1:53] The flap's straight, deliberate.
[1:55] Everybody knows it.
[1:56] What the hell was the matter?
[1:57] Why did they do it that way?
[1:58] You know what I mean?
[2:00] I understand.
[2:00] I'm not complaining about the type.
[2:01] I expected it to be this way.
[2:05] It shows you that you can put on something really good and then have them screw it up.
[2:09] Yep.
[2:09] Sure does.
[2:10] Although, they say, on the whole, it's a plus.
[2:13] Mort Allen, who was not over there, I called Mort to get his feel.
[2:17] I said, Mort, what did you think?
[2:18] He said he thought, you know, it was a good presentation.
[2:21] It was a good feel to it.
[2:22] It showed the enthusiasm.
[2:23] He felt ABC, which was two minutes and 20 seconds, was probably showed the best feel of it because they referred to the pins, I believe, on ABC.
[2:31] Yeah, that's right.
[2:32] And, you know, showed more of the enthusiasm.
[2:35] There were a lot of others.
[2:38] The point is, if you want the picture, you could assume that
[2:42] sharing the enthusiasm.
[2:44] ABC also showed shaking hands with the kids.
[2:48] Right, they did.
[2:48] NBC a little bit.
[2:49] CBS, I was disappointed.
[2:50] CBS did quite a lot.
[2:53] CBS was a job.
[2:55] CBS was a job.
[2:56] Disappointed with that.
[2:58] They were very cleverly done.
[3:07] Without getting that they, if you did have the line, it seems to be a
[3:13] Well, maybe it may be that he has more in his head.
[3:17] I'll give him, I'll give, I'll handle it.
[3:19] I'll give this to him.
[3:21] I'd say, give it to Martin.
[3:23] Guys, you're in the system.
[3:24] What do you really think of him?
[3:28] That's the matter.
[3:31] Why don't you reflect on that?
[3:34] We don't.
[3:35] And as I said, I think all of this is worth it.
[3:39] It just shows you how these networks are.
[3:41] Or, oh, Marty, you must get off of this very good.
[3:43] I don't know.
[3:45] Huh?
[3:45] Actually, he referred to the fact that I saw it.
[3:47] I don't know if you saw it.
[3:49] Of course, this is only the local thing, but it shows how well it could be.
[3:53] WTOP, at the end of the show, showed an awful lot of, you know, the young people, the excitement, the singing, and the whole thing.
[4:01] That was on WTOP.
[4:02] That's not the network.
[4:03] Right.
[4:03] Yes, sir.
[4:04] Well, maybe around the country.
[4:07] I suspect so.
[4:08] I'm not saying that.
[4:10] It's tough to say that I think it's well-shared about it.
[4:14] I'll handle this tomorrow.
[4:21] I know how to do it.
[4:22] How do you think you'll do it?
[4:24] Well, I'll just do it.
[4:25] When I see Pierpoint and when I see Caplow and Jarrell, apart from one another, I'll put the needle into them.
[4:33] I was at both places.
[4:33] Do you think it reflected the spirit in the room?
[4:36] Yeah.