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Conversation 011-049

TapeTape 11StartTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 8:40 AMEndTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 8:46 AMTape start time01:14:07Tape end time01:18:39ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AudioNARA Description

On October 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:40 am to 8:46 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 011-049 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 011-049

 Date: October 12, 1971
 Time: 8:40 am - 8:46 am

 Location: White House Telephone

 The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

 [See Conversation No. 288-7]

        Ziegler's schedule

        The President's press conference, October 12, 1971
             -Schedule
                   -Frank Cormier
                   -Questions
                   -Filming
                   -Questions
             -Ziegler's briefing
             -Robert C. Byrd
                   -Possible appointment to the Supreme Court
                   -Ziegler's talk with John N. Mitchell
                   -Washington Post story
                         -George S. McGovern
                         -Spencer Rich
                         -Wire services
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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. Ziegler, he was tied up in traffic.
Yeah.
Yes, sir.
On the thing today, I will start at approximately 1125.
All right, sir.
I'll just walk out of there, and don't tell them anything.
No.
Just let them think it's your briefing.
All right, sir.
And they then have, you can just, who, Carmere?
He'd be the one to cut it off.
I want to cut off at 5 minutes to 12.
5 to 12?
Yeah.
All right.
Because I have the leaders at 12 o'clock.
I have to brief the leaders on a matter.
Right.
I'll have an announcement to make.
Now, at 5 to 12, I want to cut off sharp.
All right, sir.
Fine.
Okay.
And you plan to take questions right in the press room?
Oh, yes.
Yes.
And they can film.
They can film?
They can film.
I'll come out.
You can say I'll have... Tell them that the president will...
At 1125, just a minute before I come.
They can set up film quickly, can't they?
Well, can't you tell them you've got... Yeah, I'll tell them to set up film.
Why don't you tell them that you can film...
I'll have it announced.
No, wait a minute.
On the basis that something's happening that might happen on phase two.
See that point?
Right.
I want them off on that herring off on that point.
See what I mean?
All right, sir.
Say, look, in view of the fact that this thing is going on, you can set up film today, and if I have anything, you can film it.
All right, sir.
Yes, sir.
Fine.
Have it then just repeat.
You go out 1125, I'll be out, and we'll cut her off at... 1155.
1155, 1125 in that ballpark.
Right.
And 1155, they can be cut.
Will you take questions on all subjects, or should I limit that?
I will.
I'll tell them.
Okay, you will tell them.
I'll tell them, yeah.
All right, sir.
And we can cover everything
And I'm going to let them cover anything they want, but we'll see about that.
Now, one thing I don't know, are you going to do any briefing before then?
No, sir, I won't at all.
No, because it's not uncommon for me not to go right at 11 o'clock.
So this will be very natural.
In the event that the question raised...
One of our boys got off the reservation on the bird thing and just blew a beautiful play I was trying to make here, saying that he was not under consideration, you know, that he was not, probably wasn't going to be appointed.
You are to completely reverse that.
All right.
And just say that that's totally wrong.
He's very under very active consideration, under very active consideration, the president has.
And that's a totally wrong information, you understand?
That didn't come out of your shop anyway, did it?
No, sir.
I didn't know how to handle a bird thing, so I just left it loose.
I talked to the Attorney General briefly about it yesterday.
The way we've been playing it is that he is one of those under consideration.
He is under very active consideration.
And we did not add... Just say that he's under very active consideration.
You see the White House story this morning in the Post?
I saw the Post story, yes, which... Well, that is totally inaccurate.
Absolutely.
Totally inaccurate.
I don't know where that came from.
Well, that's one of our guys, probably, you know, just trying to...
He's frightened to death because of Bergman and the Klan or some damn thing.
I don't know.
But nevertheless, I want him to name out there.
Let me explain.
You, of course, can understand this.
Let us suppose that we were not considering him.
Ron, can't you see what it's done to the opposition?
Have you considered?
Sure.
McGovern had screen around.
Sure.
All the Democratic candidates have had to determine, are they for or against Burt?
He's very actively under consideration.
Right.
You understand?
We're going to make them stand up and be counted.
All right, I'll move that in a subtle under... Well, I'd like, if you could, to get that off even before I get there.
Is there a way you could do it?
Yes, sir, I think so.
Well, I mean, I just say that, look, I'd simply call it...
Whoever wrote the post story, just call them in.
Well, Spence Rich wrote the post story.
All right, fine.
Is he there?
Calling Spence Rich in the two wires.
Calling Spence Rich in the two wires.
And say, look, fellas, you got this story, and I don't want you to get off on the wrong track.
He's under very active consideration, along with others.
I'm not going to go beyond it.
Okay, sir.
Bye.
Right, bye.
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