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Conversation 011-008

TapeTape 11StartThursday, October 7, 1971 at 8:53 PMEndThursday, October 7, 1971 at 8:57 PMTape start time00:15:18Tape end time00:18:21ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Safire, William L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and William Safire discuss the positive reception and communication strategy following the President’s recent economic address. Nixon emphasizes the importance of using anecdotal stories from constituent letters to connect with the public, arguing that personal narratives are more effective than abstract policy discussions. The two reflect on favorable press coverage and the necessity of mobilizing public opinion to support the administration's economic program.

Economic policyPublic relationsConstituent correspondenceMedia strategySpeechwriting
AudioNARA Description

On October 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire talked on the telephone from 8:53 pm to 8:57 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 011-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 011-008

 Date: October 7, 1971
 Time: 8:53 pm - 8:57 pm
 Location: White House Telephone

 The President talked with William L. Safire.

        Assessment of the President's economic speech, October 7, 1971
             -Letters
                   -Safire, Raymond K. Price, Jr.
             -Profits
             -Economics
             -Press handling
             -Labor
             -Television
             -Silverstein [?]
             -New York Times
             -Letters
                   -Importance
                         -Future use

              -Ronald L. Ziegler
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Well, you survived the thing.
You know, the letters were, you know, I know that you and Ray and all the rest, they sort of regurgitate whenever I mention letters, but they've checked around the country.
Three-fourths, that's all they mention.
It was a nice, you know.
You've just got to realize it's a way to get through to people.
You've got to mention the fact that folks are calling rather than historic praise.
Well, anyway.
I think the prophet thing went well.
Yeah.
And that line about the great momentous historic things coming up...
That was a good one, yeah.
I got a few reactions to that.
Don't you think that was good?
Yeah.
If it is.
Well, it seemed to be handled respectfully by the press, too.
Yeah, that killed him.
Well, along those lines, I haven't listened to television.
Around the country, that was the general feeling, you know, that we've made it understandable that people are for it.
The thing is that we have to mobilize the public opinion, and boy, we've got them with us on this.
We really have it with us, and that wasn't
what this speech is all about, don't you think?
Yeah.
That's right.
Oh, Christ.
Look at that.
Kill him.
Kill him and kill the program.
Great editorial saying, what a responsible, wonderful thing.
And boy, the folks out there say, well, ho-hum, what the hell was that all about?
But when they hear that a school teacher in Klamath Falls gave up 300 bucks a month, you know, that gets home.
That's why you can't emphasize too strongly.
Find a letter now and then, you know, a little story.
That's what people need.
They only relate to stories.
But you did a fine job in pulling it all together so fast, and I think it's really, I think it'll go well.
I think it'll go.
Zeger was very pleased.
He said that the press was
quite well taken.
And we had a lot of delicate problems rather well, I thought.
Right.
Okay, Bill.
Thank you.
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