On August 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 11:48 am to 11:50 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-159 of the White House Tapes.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Ready, Mr. President.
Yes, sir.
Didn't want to bother your thinking for your conference, but I thought there was a good thing you could announce, which would give you a good lead.
I just talked to Wilbur on the phone, and he said he would cooperate all the way.
And I said, Wilbur, would you be willing to come in for a meeting with the bipartisan leadership?
He said, yeah.
He says, you ought to have it this week.
And so I thought that 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, I get to, basically, this would be a
like ranking on ways and means, appropriations, making in currency, and the top leadership of the House and Senate bipartisan.
How does that sound to you?
That sounds great.
It's follow-up, and so if you will announce that, that the president is calling the bipartisan leadership together, and that we have indications of very strong support from Chairman Mills of the major proposals.
Roger.
I said, let's give him credit.
Give him credit.
Archer.
Yeah.
Archer.
Good.
And you intend to include ways and means.
Ways and means, appropriations, banking currency, and then we will include the legislative leaders.
In other words, the majority and minority leaders and whips.
Right.
Appropriations Committee of both houses.
Both houses.
All of both houses.
Ways and means.
The banking and currency, I think, ought to be included just for... Don't you think so?
Yes, sir, I do.
I think you'll include banking and currency.
Also, they're our friends.
Most of those people are our friends.
Yes, sir.
Like John Sparkman, people like that.
Yes, sir.
All right, fine.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Good luck.
I thought that was a good cabinet meeting.
They enjoyed it.
I say they enjoyed it.
Thanks to you and what you did last night.
Goodbye.
Thank you.