Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 7 › Conversation 007-050

Nixon phone call with Aiken on Lockheed Corporation and Aviation industry

Monday, August 2, 1971 · 12:56 PM–1:00 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Aiken, George D.Conversation007-050 on Tape 7 (tape position 02:17:04–02:20:18)StartMonday, August 2, 1971 at 12:56 PMEndMonday, August 2, 1971 at 1:00 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 007-050 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted Senator George D. Aiken regarding the Lockheed loan guarantee, emphasizing the urgent need to support the Southern California aerospace industry following the cancellation of the SST program. Aiken expressed reservations about the selective nature of the proposal but agreed to remain neutral during the upcoming debate, acknowledging the economic hardships facing the region. The two also discussed current foreign policy, specifically affirming their mutual support for the administration's stance on maintaining Taiwan's position in the United Nations amid the evolving relationship with the People's Republic of China.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Hello.
Hi, George.
I hate to bother you on a matter that is not in the field we usually talk about, foreign policy, but I've just been getting some reports from California on our situation there.
And this Lockheed thing I know is a very technical thing.
The problem we've got, George, is that having
You see, Southern California has this enormous airframe problem.
If we lose this one after the SST thing, it's going to have a terribly depressing effect.
I was just talking to Reagan on the phone over the last week, and he was informing me.
I just pass it on to you.
I'm not trying to arm-twist you.
I wouldn't do that.
But I would appreciate if you'd consider, if you could give us a little help on it, it would have an enormous effect.
I said at the beginning, if you make it across the board,
I go for it, but to make it too selective, there's hardly anyone up our way in the northeast of New England anyway that would be affected by it.
Well, as a matter of fact, we could go for a cross-the-board thing at a later time.
The House struck it down, but on the other hand, at this point,
We have a very serious problem in terms of this specific thing, and I certainly would support across the board at a later point if we can get our friend Proxmire to go along.
You may have to.
Yes, but I would...
Well, I just wanted to let you know my deep personal interest in it.
Thanks for calling.
I know you've got a personal interest.
It's because of the state and Southern California has really taken a rap there.
And I'll try to find something, I know, up in your way in Vermont and New England and so forth.
We've got to do something for that part of the country.
I've got five GE plants with inner stone throw-ups.
Have you?
Well, you let me know whenever we can do something.
But incidentally, I'm very grateful for your statements on China.
They were just great.
Yes, and I just endorsed your statement, Bill's statement on... Oh, did he get it over to you?
He told me he was going to call you this morning.
Don't you think that's the right approach?
I do, too.
I think it's the only approach.
Yeah, we've got to oppose the expulsion of Taiwan.
I agree.
I've always felt that Taiwan belonged to the promotions anyway.
But we certainly shouldn't permit them to be expelled if we can help it.
As far as Security Council goes, that's a matter for the UN itself to decide who has that seat.
And it'll be People's Republic if they come in under the terms which are laid down.
Well, fine.
Well, anyway, George, a lot of people watch you up there, and I would, as I say, I sure will appreciate it if you could help us on this one.
Well, I'm not taking any part in the debate.
I think that's about as good as I could do, considering the attitude of our way.
Okay.
Okay.

NARA Description

On August 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and George D. Aiken talked on the telephone from 12:56 pm to 1:00 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-050 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 7-50

Date: August 2, 1971
Time: 12:56 pm - 1:00 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George D. Aiken.

[See Conversation No. 553-6I]

     Lockheed Amendment
         -California economy
               -Aircraft industry
                     -Supersonic transport [SST]
               -The President's talk with Ronald W. Reagan
          -Nationwide application
               -William Proxmire
         -California
         -Assistance for New England

     The People's Republic of China [PRC]
          -Aiken's statement
          -William P. Rogers’ statement
          -Taiwan
               -United Nations [UN]

     Lockheed amendment

Also recorded on August 2, 1971

  • 007-051 1:00 PM · 3 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:00 pm and 1:08 pm.
  • 007-052 1:08 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 1:08 pm.
  • 007-053 1:08 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 1:08 pm.
  • 007-054 1:17 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Caleb Boggs talked on the telephone from 1:17 pm to 1:18 pm.
  • 007-055 1:19 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 1:19 pm.
  • 007-056 1:19 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 1:19 pm.
  • 007-057 1:19 PM · 8 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:19 pm and 11:07 pm.
  • 007-058 1:19 PM · 28 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:19 pm and 11:07 pm.

All 34 conversations from August 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 007-050, August 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/007-050 (accessed October 9, 2026).