Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 15 › Conversation 015-085

Nixon phone call with MacGregor on Congressional relations

Monday, November 22, 1971 · 10:56 AM–10:57 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; MacGregor, Clark; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; MacGregor, ClarkConversation015-085 on Tape 15 (tape position 02:54:36–02:55:37)StartMonday, November 22, 1971 at 10:56 AMEndMonday, November 22, 1971 at 10:57 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 015-085 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Clark MacGregor regarding a strategy to publicly criticize Congress for its legislative inaction and delays surrounding the Thanksgiving recess. Nixon directed MacGregor and William Timmons to prepare a presidential statement highlighting congressional failure to progress on key issues, specifically foreign assistance legislation. MacGregor provided an update on the status of the House conference committee, noting the specific role of Thomas E. Morgan in stalling committee meetings, and was subsequently invited to the Oval Office to further discuss the administration’s response.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Mr. McGregor, sir.

Good morning, Mr. President.

I was thinking one thing I'd like for you to give some thought to you and Timmons and the leadership.

I think that when the Senate does leave, you ought to begin the preparation of a real presidential statement blasting the Congress for its inactivity and laying out what they ought to be doing and so forth.

What do you think of that?

of Thanksgiving because these guys aren't doing a goddamn thing with delay.

And it's ridiculous that the House is gone now.

It really is.

Yes, it is.

And it's ridiculous that the House countries are not working on foreign assistance.

Incidentally, Mr. President, the Republican members

The Committee of Conference, which had its first meeting on Friday, were willing to stay and work Doc Morgan.

We don't want to blast Doc, I'm sure, but he was the one who was responsible for no meetings on foreign assistance this week.

It's time, I think, for us to step up to it.

Where are you now?

I'm in my office right now.

Well, come on down.

I'll talk here.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On November 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone from 10:56 am to 10:57 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-085 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 15-85

Date: November 22, 1971
Time: 10:56 am - 10:57 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Clark MacGregor

The President talked with MacGregor.

[See also Conversation No. 621-44C]

     Senate
          -William E. Timmons
               -Preparation of presidential statement
                    -Thanksgiving recess
                    -Senate inactivity
                    -House
                          -Foreign assistance
                          -Conference committee
                                -Republicans
                                -Thomas E. Morgan

     Meeting with the President

Also recorded on November 22, 1971

621-043 9:10 AM · 1 hr 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, and Barry M. Goldwater met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:10 am to 10:22 am.
621-044 10:22 AM · 58 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, Clark MacGregor, and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:22 am and 11:30 am.
015-083 10:51 AM · 1 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:51 am and 10:56 am.
015-084 10:51 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:51 am and 10:56 am.
015-086 11:00 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:00 am and 11:15 am.
015-087 11:15 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 11:15 am to 11:16 am.
015-088 11:16 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:16 am and 12:19 pm.
015-089 12:19 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John B. Connally, Clark MacGregor, and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 12:19 pm to 12:24 pm.

All 62 conversations from November 22, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 015-085, November 22, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-085 (accessed October 1, 2026).