Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 009-017
Date: Wednesday, September 15, 1971 at 12:18 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/009-017

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yeah.
[0:01] General Hicks.
[0:03] You are.
[0:04] Al, the state people missed the point I was trying to make.
[0:07] Oh, yes.
[0:08] It isn't the democratic process.
[0:10] Look, for God's sakes, Zambia and all those places have a democratic process.
[0:14] Now, let me give you the question very specifically.
[0:18] I want, first, who is the present head of government of the country?
[0:23] Second, in his last election...
[0:28] Did he have a contested election?
[0:32] Right.
[0:32] Which meets U.S. standards.
[0:34] All right, now go over that list, tell them I want it in 15 minutes from state, and tell those assholes to get going on it.
[0:39] I expect it in 15 minutes.
[0:41] All right.
[0:41] Go over it.
[0:41] They know who the president of everyone in this country, and some of them, I know some of these countries, they didn't have an election last time.
[0:47] They didn't have an election.
[0:48] that's the last time they may have had it now the democratic process is something altogether different right i want to know how many of the present leaders of the countries now they've gotten we've given aid no but i want that too that's something else the one on aid that's a better question that'll come later but i want on this particular list that they already have of the ones that have become independent
[1:09] and some of them we've given aid to and some we haven't.
[1:11] But I want them to say, now look here, how many of these countries' present leaders in his last election had a contested election meeting American standards.
[1:21] Right, sir.
[1:22] All right.
[1:23] Now tell them to get off their butts.
[1:24] Yes, sir.