← 014-038014-040 →

Conversation 014-039

TapeTape 14StartThursday, November 11, 1971 at 3:07 PMEndThursday, November 11, 1971 at 3:08 PMTape start time01:06:34Tape end time01:08:09ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Ehrlichman, John D.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the internal strategy for reorganizing the Department of Agriculture, emphasizing the need to secure support from Roy Ash and the Ash Council. Nixon instructs Ehrlichman to coordinate with Charls Walker to ensure the reorganization plan is presented as a necessary concession to achieve broader community development goals. They also agree to balance the public framing of the decision by providing credit to both Earl Butz and Clifford Hardin.

Department of AgricultureExecutive ReorganizationAsh CouncilRoy L. AshEarl L. ButzClifford M. Hardin
AudioNARA Description

On November 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 3:07 pm to 3:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 014-039 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 14-39

Date: November 11, 1971
Time: 3:07 pm - 3:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     John D. Ehrlichman

Ehrlichman talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 298-15]

     Department of Agriculture organization

          -Roy L. Ash
                -President’s Advisory Council on Executive Organizations
          -Chet Holifield
          -John B. Connally
                -Charls E. Walker
          -Earl L. Butz
          -Clifford M. Hardin
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Mr. President, Mr. Ehrlichman?
All right, sir, Mr. Ehrlichman?
Yeah.
Fine.
There you are.
Thank you.
John, with regard to this setup on the Department of Agriculture, one thing that is very important, if you haven't already covered it, is to be sure the Ash Council people are covered.
All right.
Has somebody thought of that?
I am not sure they have.
You can see the problem.
Sure.
You're covering Hollyfield, but you better cover Ash.
All right.
Now, obviously, the way to handle it is simply to say that
We've just been negotiating like hell on the hill, and we have no chance to get community development unless we can work this one out.
This gets that support.
Right.
All right.
I'll get somebody to write on that.
We can't get it to Connolly.
Of course, he's abroad.
But get it to Walker's.
All right.
And read about it.
All right.
This is a decision that was made only because we found it was the only way we could get the support that we needed to get the...
community development plan through or anything you need to say.
With regard to that particular point, do you think we should simply leave it that Butts thought of this idea or don't you think we've got to give Hardin a little credit for it?
Well, I think you can give Hardin some credit for it.
I think we have to.
He certainly raised the question and one of the first subjects you took up with Butts was this problem and that it's been agreed.
I think the more you can give Butts credit for it, the more stock he'll have out in the territory.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Fine.
Fine.
I'll do that.
← 014-038014-040 →