Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 013-023
Date: Friday, October 29, 1971 at 8:26 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, Hugh
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/013-023

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Senator Scott, Mr. President.
[0:03] Hello, Mr. President.
[0:04] I was tied up with Tito last night, so I didn't get to call you, but that was just a great victory in the Senate.
[0:10] And as you know, and as you said so well, it was essential because...
[0:19] to have such a unbelievably irresponsible restriction built in would just mean you'd call home.
[0:27] I mean, any negotiation leaves you no options in negotiating for the prison return, for example.
[0:33] And, you know, it's an unbelievably bad thing.
[0:38] I can't understand some of my colleagues sometimes.
[0:41] I know.
[0:41] Well, another thing here is what in the hell do they think we're doing?
[0:45] Look at the casualties this week or seven or last week or five.
[0:48] You know what I mean?
[0:50] The wars, they know we're getting out.
[0:52] What do they want?
[0:53] What are they trying to do?
[0:54] I can't believe it's much more than a desire to just get the credit.
[0:59] Yeah, in other words, the people that got us in want to get the credit for getting us out.
[1:03] Is that it?
[1:03] That's what I believe.
[1:06] There's no other explanation for the illogicality of this stuff.
[1:10] Yeah, that's right.
[1:12] I was not sure we'd win.
[1:13] That's why I didn't want to tell your people that I was sure of it.
[1:16] But thank goodness it did work.
[1:20] Well, I'll tell you, I think it is just great.
[1:23] And we certainly appreciate it.
[1:28] What you've done.
[1:30] Okay.
[1:30] And I thought what you said about the U.N. was good.
[1:34] That description of the hot pants.
[1:37] Hot pants principalities.
[1:39] You know, really, George Bush was telling me how they came and danced the jig in front of his desk.
[1:47] Well, now, God damn it.
[1:48] You know, we can accept loss.
[1:50] I mean, after all, in a democratic system we believe in, we win some, we lose some.
[1:56] But these little countries that we've done so much for don't have to come in and insult and humiliate the United States.
[2:02] And that hurt the UN badly.
[2:04] Well, I've been rubbing salt in it by pointing out that this Arab leader had mentioned that Israel is next.
[2:10] I thought that'd take care of that New York liberal sentiment for the UN.
[2:14] Very good.
[2:16] Israel, the Arabs will go after it.
[2:17] Incidentally, you were not far wrong to go after Israel.
[2:20] Of course, South Africa, it's a cinch to go out now, I think.
[2:24] Portugal, maybe, which would crack NATO.
[2:26] Then they'll go after Greece.
[2:28] Well, anyway, good luck.
[2:30] Thank you.
[2:30] Tell the other fellows that worked on it I called, will you, Hugh?
[2:34] Because I'm tied up with some more of Tito's stuff today.
[2:37] I will.
[2:37] Bill Brock did a good job on his amendment, too, and I'll tell him.
[2:41] Great.
[2:41] Thank you.
[2:42] You tell him.
[2:43] Bye.