Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 10 › Conversation 010-070

Nixon phone call with Scott on Phase II and Federal pay bill

Wednesday, October 6, 1971 · 8:50 AM–8:52 AM ET · White House Telephone · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, HughConversation010-070 on Tape 10 (tape position 02:25:11–02:29:51)StartWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 8:50 AMEndWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 8:52 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 010-070 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Senate Republican Leader Hugh Scott to ensure a pending federal pay bill would not pass the Senate ahead of the President’s scheduled Phase II economic announcement. Nixon emphasized that a legislative defeat would undermine his policy rollout and negatively impact labor union relations. Scott assured the President that he would conduct an accurate vote count and initiate a filibuster if necessary to block the measure.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Senator Scott, Mr. President.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Hi, Hugh.
Hugh, I was wondering on this vote today, on this pay thing, that it appears to me that we really can't risk going forward with the...
You know, it's something that we lose, because I'm going to announce the phase two thing this week, you see.
Now, isn't this one you can talk to death?
It seems to me you've got to have enough guys over there that long.
I think we can talk it to death if we need to.
I'll count.
Of course, there'd be risk in making a mistake here, but...
Our county indicates that we have enough votes on straight up and down to beat it.
You think so?
I can make a further judgment.
I have Tom Karalogos on the way up here now.
Good.
Well, you talk to Tom and, of course, use your judgment, but I can tell you that it would be a very, very bad blow if before I go on, say, tomorrow night with Phase 2, if the Senate slaps it down, you see, because it blows the whole thing.
You know, this is a very, I mean, the House acted in...
and it would be uh it would be uh really it would uh would have a terribly shocking effect on on on the labor unions that get out of go run amok everything you see yes so you're aware that i lodged an objection which prevented it coming up oh i i know i know that's why i know i'm going but i and i think you're fighting exactly right but uh i just just heard i just tell you that that because i'm going to go on the phase two thing tomorrow
That's the present plan.
They'll let you know.
They'll confirm it within a couple hours.
I think they'll be able to get the time.
I just feel terribly strongly that we must not have a bad Senate vote before I go.
Oh, I agree.
Because that'll be in the news, you see.
We'll do as careful a count as we can and get a further appraisal on it if it seems risky.
Yeah.
We'll gear ourselves just to talk it to death.
I've already talked to Wally Bennett this morning on that.
Good, good.
He's willing to help.
Great.
Well, if you can handle this, Hugh, I would appreciate it.
I'd appreciate it.
Well, if it looks too hot, we'll turn it into a filibuster.
At least, I'm sitting here talking to Henry.
He told me he was able to get you before the announcement.
That keeps him on their back toes a little, doesn't it?
Yes, sir, it does, and it was a good item.
I went right up to the press gallery two minutes after 10 to cover the news up here.
We'll keep him on their back toes.
Yes, sir, you're doing a wonderful job, if I may say so.
Okay, Hugh.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On October 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 8:50 am to 8:52 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 010-070 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 10-70

Date: October 6, 1971
Time: 8:50 am - 8:52 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Hugh Scott.

[See Conversation No. 283-15D]

     Senate
          -Vote
                -Federal pay bill
                -President's schedule
                      -Phase II announcement, October 7, 1971
          -Filibuster possibility
          -Tom C. Korologos
          -Scott's action
                -Wallace F. Bennett

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 6s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

     Senate
          -Vote
               -Filibuster

     President's schedule
          -Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on October 6, 1971

  • 010-066 8:27 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:27 am and 8:28 am.
  • 010-067 8:28 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and David N. Henderson talked on the telephone from 8:28 am to 8:32 am.
  • 283-015 8:28 AM · 32 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, David N. Henderson, White House operator, and Hugh Scott met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:28 am to 9:05 am.
  • 010-068 8:32 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:32 am.
  • 010-069 8:32 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:32 am and 8:50 am.
  • 283-016 9:05 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:05 am and 9:30 am.
  • 283-017 9:05 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:05 am and 9:30 am.
  • 283-047 9:05 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:05 am and 9:30 am.

All 110 conversations from October 6, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 010-070, October 6, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/010-070 (accessed October 8, 2026).