Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 012-119
Date: Monday, October 25, 1971 at 3:29 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buchanan, Patrick J.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/012-119

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Hello?
[0:02] Yes, sir.
[0:03] Well, I think your conservatives ought to feel pretty good about the court now.
[0:07] Well, they're elated.
[0:07] Those were beautiful.
[0:09] And, you know, we've...
[0:12] despite all this sour grapes by some of the press because they were out on a limb, just amuses the hell out of me.
[0:21] The country didn't give a damn about that.
[0:22] They only care about who the hell's appointed, don't you think?
[0:25] That's right, that's right.
[0:26] In fact, you did it on television.
[0:27] That's what they're interested in.
[0:28] Those guys got, you hit that thing right on the head, the qualifications issue.
[0:34] Well, the press trapped themselves on that, didn't they?
[0:36] They really did.
[0:36] You see, well, I guess you didn't get a chance to see it, but
[0:38] Severide and Rather were just sort of swallowing their own spit after the announcement.
[0:43] You know, Severide had gone on just before you went on saying, it looks like we're headed for a constitutional crisis.
[0:48] And after it was over, well, he said, Dan, I guess there won't be much trouble confirming these fellows.
[0:53] So it came off very well, very well.
[0:56] Well, we keep, we've got to make our conservatives give us good marks on this, you know.
[1:01] They usually are, oh, I always wonder what are you going to do for me lately?
[1:05] That's right.
[1:05] This is the major thing, Pat, the biggest thing we could do.
[1:08] And also, it isn't just doing it, but it's getting it through.
[1:11] Now, we'll get these through the Senate.
[1:13] Right, right.
[1:14] I don't think they can...
[1:14] I think you're going to get some kind of opposition just because it's a political season.
[1:18] Oh, they'll fight Rehnquist.
[1:20] Yeah, but they can't get a majority.
[1:22] They can't get anywhere near a majority.
[1:23] Never, never, never.
[1:26] Okay.
[1:26] Okay, sir.