Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 010-129
Date: Thursday, October 7, 1971 at 12:28 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Safire, William L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/010-129

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Bill, this may be a typo, but what we talk about, it says we launch this battle against inflation for the purpose of winning, and it should be launched.
[0:11] Right.
[0:12] That is a typo.
[0:13] Yeah.
[0:13] We launched.
[0:14] Incidentally, is there a better word?
[0:16] We started this battle, or do you think people understand launched?
[0:20] I like launched.
[0:20] It's, you know, like getting off the ground.
[0:23] Yeah, yeah.
[0:23] Well, I guess people understand it with all the business of...
[0:28] satellites and so forth.
[0:30] All right.
[0:30] We launched this battle against inflation.
[0:35] We launched.
[0:36] Oh, I can say it.
[0:37] We launched this battle.
[0:38] It isn't the best word, but we began this battle against inflation for the purpose of winning it.
[0:45] And we're going to stay in it until we do win it.
[0:54] What do you think about began?
[0:56] Well, launched is better, isn't it?
[0:58] Launched is a more vivid word.
[1:00] Began has a nice alliteration with battle.
[1:03] We began this battle against a pleasure.
[1:14] I just worry about tripping over launched because in the... We launched this battle hot.
[1:19] I say in the past sense with the E-D on the end.
[1:21] It's a hard word to pronounce.
[1:22] We launched this battle.
[1:23] Yeah, we launched this battle.
[1:25] Yeah, the D with the this.
[1:27] Oh, it began, I think.
[1:28] We began this battle.
[1:34] I think let's make it began.
[1:36] I think you got a point there.
[1:38] That's pretty good, too.
[1:44] We began this battle against inflation for the purpose of winning it.
[1:47] and we're going to stay in it until we do win it.
[1:49] Okay?
[1:49] That's a powerful line.
[1:50] Yeah.
[1:51] Good.
[1:51] I'll tell you.