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Conversation 010-065

TapeTape 10StartWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 8:25 AMEndWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 8:27 AMTape start time02:19:01Tape end time02:21:53ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Goldwater, Barry M.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Senator Barry Goldwater called President Nixon to express support for the President’s recent political rhetoric, specifically targeting Senator Edward Kennedy’s comments on Communism. The two discussed the potential 1972 presidential ambitions of Hubert Humphrey and the political damage done to Kennedy. Nixon also affirmed his commitment to appointing two conservative justices to the Supreme Court, highlighting William Rehnquist as a potential candidate despite potential pushback from the American Bar Association.

Supreme Court appointmentsConservatismEdward M. KennedyHubert H. HumphreyWilliam H. Rehnquist1972 election
AudioNARA Description

On October 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Barry M. Goldwater talked on the telephone from 8:25 am to 8:27 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 010-065 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 10-65

Date: October 6, 1971
Time: 8:25 am - 8:27 am
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 283-13]

     Call from Barry M. Goldwater

The President talked with Goldwater between 8:25 am and 8:27 am.

[See Conversation No. 283-13]

     President's schedule
          -John W. Rollins
          -Robert J. Dole

     Goldwater's speech
         -Edward M. Kennedy
               -Hubert H. Humphrey

     Supreme Court appointments
          -Conservatives
          -Phil Rensler [William H. Rehnquist]
                -Richard G. Kleindienst
          -American Bar Association [ABA]
          -William J. Brennan
          -Richard H. Poff

     Goldwater's schedule
         -John C. Whitaker
         -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Mr. President, it is Senator Goldwater you wanted.
Yeah.
I have him, sir.
Hello.
Hello.
Mary.
Yes.
I just wanted to tell you I've just been very grateful for the way you've been knocking them around lately.
I wrote back and up I went over to do a finance thing for John Rollins to the for the National Committee in Delaware yesterday and wrote back with Bob Dole and he said you guys are on an airplane at three o'clock in the morning the night before.
That's right.
But it's really been great and I uh
I think the way you nailed old Teddy on that crawling statement was good.
And you notice Hubert followed your line.
You see that?
Yes, I saw that.
Why do you think he did that?
I think Hubert's running.
You think he wants to get in on the game, huh?
I think so.
I don't think he can stay away from it.
If I were a Democrat, it would be my choice.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, he's the most decent man.
And not only that, he's been there before.
That's right, that's right.
But Teddy went beyond the pale on that one.
I think that can really hurt him.
I use it in all my speeches.
How do people react when you use it?
Well, they certainly recognize it.
Do you want a president who would crawl before a communist?
Yeah.
Right, right, good.
Well, we're going to keep at it.
Yeah.
Incidentally, I want you to know on the judge thing, I can assure you they are, if I have to...
fight it for the balance of this term, we're going to have two conservative judges.
You understand?
Well, I know that's what you want.
You know, there's a young fellow in the Justice Department.
He's only 41 or two years old.
Oh, God, his name slips me.
He comes from Arizona and Flying Deeds knows him well.
He's probably the greatest
authority on the Constitution in the country today.
Injustice.
Bill Rentschler.
Oh, I know Rentschler well.
He's an excellent man.
And the papers he's done on the Constitution are suited by every expert I know to be the greatest thing.
The great difficulty is that the damn bar would have a tough time because of the lack of
you know, but boy, he's a right age and everything.
I've never been one who felt that judicial experience was necessary.
Doesn't mean a damn thing.
Look at Brennan.
That's right.
That's right.
Well, I know you're going to do the right thing.
I wouldn't let these bastards worry you.
They're not worrying me a bit.
Not one bit.
I was sorry to give up on Poff, but Poff felt he couldn't put his family through it.
Well, I guess so.
And I said, uh,
next to Whitaker the other night in Kansas City.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
He's all back of you.
Yeah.
He said you'll be very patient and pick out a fine jurist.
We will, but he's going to be conservative.
He has to be.
Okay.
Fine, Mr. President.
Thank you.
Give my love to Pat.
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