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Conversation 014-068

TapeTape 14StartThursday, November 11, 1971 at 7:15 PMEndThursday, November 11, 1971 at 7:19 PMTape start time02:08:15Tape end time02:11:44ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the composition and logistical arrangements for a U.S. delegation to Liberia, specifically prioritizing the inclusion of Bernard J. Lasker. Nixon emphasizes the importance of allowing Lasker and Billy Graham to travel on the First Lady's plane to Liberia while ensuring they do not accompany her on the rest of her tour. The conversation also shifts to the administration's staffing needs, with the two discussing the potential assignment of Peter G. Peterson to either a role in Japan or the Commerce Department.

Diplomatic delegationsLiberiaBernard J. LaskerPeter G. PetersonAdministration staffingPat Nixon
AudioNARA Description

On November 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 7:15 pm to 7:19 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 014-068 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 14-68

Date: November 11, 1971
Time: 7:15 pm - 7:19 pm

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Bad phone connection with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

The President talked with Haldeman between 7:15 pm and 7:19 pm.

     Delegation to Africa
          -Bernard J. ("Bunny") Lasker
          -Size
                -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon, William F. (“Billy”) Graham and Lasker
          -Liberia
          -Transportation arrangements
          -Schedules
          -Titles

     Peter G. Peterson
           -Role with administration
                -Japan
                -Commerce Department
                      -Family
                -Present position
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Mr. President, Mr. Hallman doesn't think you heard him.
May I connect you back?
Yeah, yeah, I didn't hear him.
The President.
Hello, Bob.
Yes, sir.
I just want to be sure that I, on Bunny, Alaska, that I think really the icing on the cake for him would be to have him go to that African thing.
And to the extent we can put people on, we'll have him go, if you would, would you?
Okay, we can.
The normal delegation on that kind of thing would be three.
Three, well, and who you got?
Pat, who else?
Pat, Billy Graham.
Pat, Billy Graham, and Bunny Lasker.
And we can extend it if we want to.
Make it four, because it's Liberia.
And she's different.
She's different.
Now, incidentally, to the extent, if she goes there first, to put them on her plane is the biggest thing in the world for them.
So I would do that.
And I hope she goes there first.
I really think she should.
That's the plan.
Good.
Well, then put them on her plane.
All those countries are, you know...
within the same neighborhood anyway.
Right.
But they'll then have to have another plane to bring them back, won't they?
Right.
They'll work something out to get them back.
It depends on how long she's gone.
Maybe they'll stay over in Liberia for a couple of days.
Yeah, that's right.
But they must not go to the other countries with her.
She can't haul them along.
You can see what it means to Alaska, for God's sake.
Do they make them ambassadors, too?
No, they're special representatives of the president or something like that.
That's pretty good.
We can whip Bunny into an ambassador thing on something else sometimes.
Right.
But this would be a nice thing for him to do.
Biggest thing.
Okay.
And we will do it.
You know, I think the Peterson thing in Japan is not bad.
Not because we're going to get rid of him, but because we need somebody, and I don't know who the hell else is going to do it.
Yeah.
But he could also do commerce, one of the two.
Which one do you lean to at the moment?
I don't think it makes much difference.
It probably would be easier to get him to take commerce.
I may be wrong, but I would guess he would be.
Family and all the rest.
He's settled here and he's got young kids.
That's right.
I see.
That's kind of a problem.
Although he might, you'd never know.
You'd never know.
He might just leap at it.
We'll offer him both, maybe.
To come down to it, we might.
That'd be a possibility, too, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Just make the point that we know that we've got two terribly important things.
No, not that they haven't done well here, but we've got two terribly important things.
Before we offer anybody else, I want to know whether you'll take it.
Yeah, but also make the point that this thing, as we know, hasn't developed into the kind of job for him that would be the best use of his talents and all that.
Right.
It's more of a staff function job.
Right.
We need him.
He can contribute more on a broader basis.
Right.
Could be.
Okay.
Okay.
Bye.
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