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Conversation 010-127

TapeTape 10StartThursday, October 7, 1971 at 12:26 PMEndThursday, October 7, 1971 at 12:27 PMTape start time04:10:55Tape end time04:10:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Safire, William L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and speechwriter William Safire discuss the strategy for an upcoming Phase II economic speech, specifically focusing on how to manage the release of accompanying letters to the press. Nixon instructs Safire to withhold the letters from the prepared text to maintain a spontaneous appearance, preferring they emerge as a secondary story. Regarding a report from George Shultz on labor cooperation, Nixon decides against including a reference to George Meany’s support, choosing instead to let labor leaders speak for themselves to avoid potential public contradiction.

Phase II economic policyPublic relations strategyGeorge MeanyGeorge ShultzLabor relationsSpeechwriting
AudioNARA Description

On October 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire talked on the telephone from 12:26 pm to 12:27 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 010-127 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 10-127

Date: October 7, 1971
Time: 12:26 pm - 12:27 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William L. Safire.

[See Conversation No. 285-18]

     Phase II speech, October 7, 1971
          -Text for press
                -Letters
                      -Ronald L. Ziegler
          -George P. Shultz
                -Productivity Commission [National Commission on Productivity] meeting
                      -George Meany
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Leave out of the text that is given to the press the letters and that section of the letters.
Okay.
It's far more effective for me to just do it as if I just thought of it at the last minute and inserted it.
See?
Got it.
And then have the letters available.
It'll cut down what they have to print and then the letters will get out as a sidebar story.
Right.
See?
All right.
I'll make sure that Ron has the letters photostatted and ready.
Fine.
Now one other thing, George Shultz called and said, after that Productivity Commission meeting, that Meany said that you can expect me to cooperate fully.
And George thought maybe we'd want to have a line in the speech saying that he's been assured, that you've been assured by leaders of these groups that they'll cooperate fully.
Might be a thought, or else that's something that they'll be turned to for a reaction right away anyway.
I'd rather not say it and then have them piss on it.
Let's let them say it.
Good point.
Yeah.
Okay, see what I mean?
I understand.
Let them say it.
Okay.
All right.
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