Conversation 008-109

TapeTape 8StartSunday, September 12, 1971 at 10:05 PMEndSunday, September 12, 1971 at 10:08 PMTape start time05:13:03Tape end time05:16:11ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Lewis, Hobart D.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone

AI Summary

President Nixon spoke with Hobart D. Lewis to express appreciation for Lewis's leadership of the Business Advisory Commission. The two men discussed the challenges of transitioning from the 90-day wage and price freeze into "Phase II," emphasizing the critical need for public support and self-policing to curb inflation. They also touched upon the necessity of maintaining firm relations with labor groups while promoting themes regarding the dignity of work.

Phase IIWage and price freezeBusiness Advisory CommissionEconomic policyLabor relationsInflation

Audio

NARA Description

On September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 10:05 pm to 10:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-109 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 8-109

Date: September 12, 1971
Time: 10:05 pm - 10:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis.

     Economy
         -Business Advisory Commission
              -The President's appreciation
              -President’s staff
              -George [Surname unknown]
              -Leonard Woodcock
              -Teamsters
              -Phase II
                    -90-day freeze
                    -Public policing
                         -Wage and price increases

                -Enthusiasm
                      -Henry E. Ford, II
                      -Fred J. Borch
                -Union membership
                -Freeze
                -Public support
                -John B. Connally's comment
                -Labor Day speech
                      -Work theme
                      -Herbert C. Hoover
                      -Welfare theme
                -Briefing
                      -Peter G. Peterson
                      -Japanese
                            -Trade

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 28s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

**********************************************************************

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.

Mr. President, Mr. Hobart Lewis is returning your call.

Oh, yeah, fine.

There you are.

Hello, Hobart, how are you?

Well, fine, fine.

I'm down here in Washington with the Advisory Commission.

Yes.

Well, I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your doing that job.

It's a thrill to do it, and your staff is terrifically helpful.

Well, we couldn't do it without you heading it up, and...

That's a good twist.

It's particularly important when we come to the second phase, you see.

When we get past the 90-day freeze, then it's going to have to depend on a great deal on public support, public policing, and a public attitude of holding down wage and price increases and so forth.

That's right.

Well, that's fine.

Great.

That's great.

So far, yeah.

That'll come down some as they begin to hurt a bit, but that's why the freeze can only last, you know, beyond a certain point, the freeze hurts too much.

Then you have to make some exceptions, and then it breaks.

But all in all, the public support is...

Yes, the dignity of work.

I'm sure it's always been the other theme of what are we going to give you.

Yeah.

Right.

Oh, you are?

Yeah, yeah, good.

Tough, tough.

We have to handle them very firmly.

Of course, we've got to have them as friends, but it's right.

It's a delicate problem.

That's right.

Well, I hope I do appreciate it.

I will keep you from your briefing.

← 008-108 008-110 →