Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 13 › Conversation 013-084

Nixon phone call with Rizzo on Philadelphia and Law and Order

Wednesday, November 3, 1971 · 9:12 AM–9:13 AM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Rizzo, Frank L.Conversation013-084 on Tape 13 (tape position 03:13:54–03:16:04)StartWednesday, November 3, 1971 at 9:12 AMEndWednesday, November 3, 1971 at 9:13 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 013-084 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned newly elected Philadelphia Mayor Frank L. Rizzo to offer congratulations on his victory and express support for his law-and-order platform. Nixon emphasized his desire for a nonpartisan working relationship with the new administration, designating John Ehrlichman as the primary White House liaison for federal assistance. The two also briefly touched upon planning for the upcoming Bicentennial celebration in Philadelphia.

Audio

Download MP3 · 3.0 MB

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Mr. President.
Yeah.
I have Mayor Rizzo for you.
Yeah.
All right?
Yes.
Thank you.
There you are.
Hello.
Mr. President, how are you?
Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to congratulate you.
Very, very much.
I mean, I know of the times I've seen you up in Philadelphia and here, and I followed your campaign, of course, knowing that
I always look on these mayoralty things as kind of nonpartisan things, but believe me, you ran a fine race, you were dignified, you took the right line on the law and order issue, and it shows that the people of Philadelphia want what you had to offer.
And I also want you to know that, as you can tell, as you can find from
talking to your predecessor as mayor, that we want to work here at the White House with you all out.
When you talk to us, you can be sure that there's no party line or anything.
And the man that I have already told, when you've got any problems, the city to take up with or we can help in the federal government is Ehrlichman, John Ehrlichman, who's the head of our domestic council.
Yes.
I'll have him be in touch with you so that after you get in, of course, you've got a little time for you.
When do they inaugurate you?
Around the 2nd of January, Mr. President.
The 2nd of January.
Well, that'll give you time to pick your thing.
How do you feel?
Oh, I feel fine, Mr. President.
It was so nice of you to call.
You didn't wear out in the camp.
Of course, you're a pretty tough guy.
It's so nice of you to call, Mr. President.
You know how I feel about you, sir.
Well, I appreciate it.
And I just say you can be sure that whatever Washington can do, we want to help you.
Because Philadelphia, of course, we're looking forward to that.
I mean, seeing that 76 thing come off, we want to work as closely as possible we can with you.
Absolutely, Mr. President.
It was so nice of you to come out and call me.
I hope I didn't wake you up.
How late did you stay up last night?
Oh, I was up until about 4 this morning.
I know.
I used to go through that.
Well, good luck anyway.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Goodbye.

NARA Description

On November 3, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Frank L. Rizzo talked on the telephone from 9:12 am to 9:13 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-084 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 013-084

Date: November 3, 1971
Time: 9:12 am - 9:13 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Frank L. Rizzo.

[See Conversation No. 301-7B]

     Rizzo's election
          -Issues

     Rizzo's future relations with the White House
          -John D. Ehrlichman
                -Role

     Inauguration

     Campaign

     Bicentennial celebration
          -Role of federal government

     Rizzo's schedule

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on November 3, 1971

  • 013-081 8:55 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:55 am.
  • 013-083 9:00 AM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:00 am and 9:11 am.
  • 301-007 9:00 AM · 3 hr 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:00 am to 12:14 pm.
  • 013-085 9:13 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 9:16 am.
  • 013-086 9:16 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:16 am.
  • 013-087 9:16 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 9:19 am.
  • 013-088 9:19 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:19 am.
  • 013-089 9:25 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ralph J. Perk talked on the telephone from 9:25 am to 9:26 am.

All 67 conversations from November 3, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 013-084, November 3, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/013-084 (accessed October 12, 2026).