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Conversation 009-093

TapeTape 9StartMonday, September 20, 1971 at 11:59 AMEndMonday, September 20, 1971 at 12:00 PMTape start time02:30:04Tape end time02:31:18ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Mitchell, John N.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss the strategy for announcing the resignation of Supreme Court Justice John M. Harlan. Nixon aims to coordinate the announcement with the Chief Justice to prevent negative press speculation and secure a favorable news cycle. Mitchell agrees to contact the Chief Justice immediately to determine the status of the resignation and assess the feasibility of an afternoon press briefing.

John M. HarlanSupreme CourtPress relationsRonald L. ZieglerWarren E. Burger
AudioNARA Description

On September 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 11:59 am to 12:00 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 009-093 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 9-93

Date: September 20, 1971
Time: 11:59 am - 12:00 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John N. Mitchell.

[See Conversation No. 576-11B]

     John M. Harlan
          -Choices
          -Ronald L. Ziegler
               -Press reporters
               -Announcement
                     -Chief Justice [Warren E. Burger]
                     -Timing
                     -Afternoon briefing
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

which president yeah attorney general for you john yes sir i think that uh the uh the thing to do is to get the harlem thing right away now i i feel that your intuition is exactly correct that uh
that we should have the two so we have the double play.
And also there's Ziegler just was in a half hour ago, not knowing what this was coming up, told me that the press was badgering with her about Harlan.
So let's don't let him badger about it.
See, he goes out and lies about it, and that's not good.
Now, how does it work?
When could we get it, and how soon could we announce it?
I will have to check with the chief justices to find out what the exact status is, but I will do so directly and get the word back to you.
If we could get it, actually, so that if he wants to do it, so that we could, well, we don't want to rush him, but we could announce it at the afternoon briefing, it would be a good thing.
All right, sir.
I'll see you later.
Bye.
Okay.
Thank you.
Bye.
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