Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 011-094
Date: Thursday, October 14, 1971 at 9:14 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/011-094

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yeah.
[0:02] Mitch Ziegler, he was tied up in traffic.
[0:04] Yeah.
[0:07] Yes, sir.
[0:08] On the thing today, I will start at approximately 1125.
[0:12] All right, sir.
[0:14] I'll just walk out of there, and don't tell them anything.
[0:17] No.
[0:17] Just let them think it's your briefing.
[0:19] All right, sir.
[0:21] And they then have, you can just, who, Carmere?
[0:29] He'd be the one to cut it off.
[0:31] I want to cut off at 5 minutes to 12.
[0:32] 5 to 12?
[0:34] Yeah.
[0:34] All right.
[0:34] Because I have the leaders at 12 o'clock.
[0:36] I have to brief the leaders on a matter.
[0:38] Right.
[0:39] I'll have an announcement to make.
[0:40] Now, at 5 to 12, I want to cut off sharp.
[0:43] All right, sir.
[0:44] Fine.
[0:45] Okay.
[0:45] And you plan to take questions right in the bathroom?
[0:48] Oh, yes.
[0:49] Yes.
[0:49] And they can film.
[0:50] They can film?
[0:52] They can film.
[0:52] I'll come out.
[0:53] You can say I'll have... Tell them that the president will...
[0:57] At 1125, just a minute before I come.
[1:01] They can set up film quickly, can't they?
[1:02] Well, can't you tell them you've got... Yeah, I'll tell them to set up film.
[1:07] Why don't you tell them that you can film...
[1:08] I'll have it announced.
[1:09] No, wait a minute.
[1:10] On the basis that something was happening that might happen on phase two.
[1:14] See that point?
[1:14] Right.
[1:15] I want them off on that herring off on that point.
[1:18] See what I mean?
[1:19] All right, sir.
[1:19] 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.
[1:25] All right, sir.
[1:26] Yes, sir.
[1:27] Fine.
[1:28] Have it then just repeat.
[1:32] You go out 1125, I'll be out, and we'll cut her off at... 1155.
[1:37] 1155, 1125 in that ballpark.
[1:41] Right.
[1:42] And 1155, they can be cut.
[1:45] Will you take questions on all subjects, or should I limit that?
[1:48] I will.
[1:48] I'll tell them.
[1:50] Okay, you will tell them.
[1:51] I'll tell them, yeah.
[1:52] All right, sir.
[1:53] And we can cover everything.
[1:56] And I'm going to let them cover anything they want, but we'll see about that.
[2:02] Now, one thing I don't know, are you going to do any briefing before then?
[2:06] No, sir, I won't at all.
[2:07] No, because it's not uncommon for me not to go right at 11 o'clock.
[2:12] So this will be very natural.
[2:13] In the event that the question raised...
[2:17] 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.
[2:32] You are to completely reverse that.
[2:34] All right.
[2:35] And just say that's totally wrong.
[2:36] He's very under very active consideration, under very active consideration, the president has said.
[2:42] And that's a totally wrong information.
[2:47] That didn't come out of your shop anyway, did it?
[2:49] No, sir.
[2:50] I didn't know how to handle a bird thing, so I just left it loose.
[2:53] I talked to the Attorney General briefly about it yesterday.
[2:58] The way we've been playing it is that he is one of those under consideration.
[3:00] He is under very active consideration.
[3:02] And we did not add... Just say that he's under very active consideration.
[3:06] Did you see the White House story this morning in the Post?
[3:09] I saw the Poe story, yes.
[3:11] Well, that is totally inaccurate.
[3:13] Absolutely.
[3:14] Totally inaccurate.
[3:15] I don't know where that came from.
[3:16] Well, that's one of our guys probably, you know, just trying to frighten to death because Bergman and the Klan or some damn thing.
[3:21] I don't know.
[3:22] But nevertheless, I want it.
[3:24] I want it.
[3:24] I want him to name out there.
[3:26] Let me explain.
[3:27] You, of course, can understand this.
[3:29] Let us suppose that we were not considering him.
[3:32] Ron, can't you see what it's done to the opposition?
[3:35] Have you considered?
[3:36] Sure.
[3:36] McGovern had screen around.
[3:38] Sure.
[3:38] All the Democratic candidates have had to determine, are they for or against Burt?
[3:42] He's very actively under consideration.
[3:44] Right.
[3:45] You understand?
[3:46] We're going to make them stand up and be counted.
[3:48] 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.
[3:54] Is there a way you could do it?
[3:55] Yes, sir, I think so.
[3:56] Well, I mean, I just say that, look, I'd simply call it...
[4:02] Whoever wrote the post story, just call them in.
[4:05] Well, Spence Rich wrote the post story.
[4:07] All right, fine.
[4:09] Is he there?
[4:11] Calling Spence Rich in the two wires.
[4:14] Calling Spence Rich in the two wires.
[4:16] And say, look, fellas, you got this story, and I don't want you to get off on the wrong track.
[4:22] He's under very active consideration, along with others.
[4:24] I'm not going to go beyond it.
[4:26] Okay, sir.
[4:27] Bye.
[4:36] Dr. Kissinger, please.