Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 011-077
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 1971 at 9:09 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/011-077

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. Coates and Mr. President.
[0:03] Yeah.
[0:03] Good morning, sir.
[0:05] Hi, Chuck.
[0:07] I was just checking over some things here.
[0:11] I wondered if you could see to it that our Republicans, for change, you know, I mentioned this briefly to you last night, could really...
[0:28] demonstrate a little enthusiasm about these major leadership, I mean, the initiatives particularly that mean to help foreign policy.
[0:38] The thing is, frankly, if you take a look at the news summaries and the best statements are basically by Democrats.
[0:47] I mean, when there is one, it's by a Democrat and the Republicans say sort of a dog in the manger, mealy mouth sort of a thing, you know, well, can't do any harm or something like that.
[0:56] Scott and Ford were...
[0:57] Scott and Ford were better they were pretty good yeah you know what I mean because they were there but I just have a feeling Chuck some way or other that and maybe you just got to sit down with McGregor and talk to a little cold turkey and say now look what are the hell is the matter with these guys I mean it's it's sort of typical Kissinger was talking to me about the is rather shock at the cabinet meeting where they were all a bunch of
[1:21] You know, sitting on their butts, not doing anything except the Rogers.
[1:25] And it's the old story that we've really got something very strong going for us here.
[1:31] Sure as hell do.
[1:32] And, I mean, it's very exciting.
[1:35] But are they incapable of excitement?
[1:38] Is that the problem?
[1:38] No, I don't think that's it, Mr. President.
[1:40] They need to be led by the hand.
[1:42] For Christ's sakes, why do they have to be led in a thing like this to see what this is?
[1:47] I've been talking to Bob about this over the last several weeks.
[1:50] We very much need a guy up there who can do this.
[1:53] I don't know.
[1:55] No, that is really the problem.
[1:57] I discovered this weekend, for example, I called two fellows, direct, wrote their stuff for them, handed it to them, and they did it.
[2:06] And Javits was all over the front pages.
[2:08] Yeah.
[2:09] The point is that... Well, goddammit, why is it that you have to write the stuff and deliver it to Javits?
[2:14] I mean, I would think McGregor would be doing that, or Timmons.
[2:17] We got about...
[2:17] 30, 40 people down here, secretaries.
[2:20] We need one fellow, basically, who just does nothing but that, and I'm convinced it can be done better than we're doing it, and it's just a matter of...
[2:27] But I do a hell of a good job on getting the votes.
[2:30] That's one thing that I've got to say.
[2:32] But I think the statement thing is a more difficult thing.
[2:35] It's also a different kind of a proposition.
[2:38] You're going to a fellow on a different basis, and...
[2:42] It can be done, and I've discovered how to do it.
[2:45] It's just now getting someone to do it.
[2:47] As far as the present issue is concerned, I had two of our fellows writing last night.
[2:54] We'll have stuff available up there this morning.
[2:56] I tried to get Ed Brook last night, but he was out today.
[3:00] Oh, well, try to see what you can do to follow up on it.
[3:03] You shouldn't even have to be thinking about it.
[3:05] I just had that feeling as I took a look at the news.
[3:08] No, I agree.
[3:09] I do think one thing, Mr. President, is the news was so heavy yesterday that they probably wouldn't get in.
[3:15] I don't think they said anything, though, if my guess is right.
[3:20] Well, I think you're probably right.
[3:21] But today we'll have a lot of stuff up there, and we'll just take them by the hand and over to the galleries and get it done.
[3:28] It isn't just that.
[3:29] Perhaps they have to be gotten together, and you might talk to Chuck about it,
[3:33] I mean, to McGregor and have a little, you know, pep session.
[3:39] Well, that would be... Rather than their coming whining and, I mean, Jesus Christ, I mean, I never see Gallup or Griffin or any of these guys unless they're whining.
[3:48] Well, I know.
[3:49] That's a problem with these fellows.
[3:50] Of course, you've...
[3:51] You've taken such strong leadership that right now they ought to get up off their ass and give us a little... Don't count on it.
[4:01] Okay.
[4:01] Well, we'll go to work on it immediately, Mr. President.
[4:03] Yes, sir.