Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 15 › Conversation 015-087

Nixon phone call with Connally on Campaign finance and Veto strategy

Monday, November 22, 1971 · 11:15 AM–11:16 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; Connally, John B.Conversation015-087 on Tape 15 (tape position 02:55:44–02:57:05)StartMonday, November 22, 1971 at 11:15 AMEndMonday, November 22, 1971 at 11:16 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 015-087 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon calls Treasury Secretary John Connally ahead of a press conference to provide tactical guidance on campaign finance legislation. Nixon directs Connally to leverage a veto threat against Congress, proposing that if the bill is blocked, he will force a special session during the holiday season to compel the passage of his tax agenda. Citing the political precedent of Harry Truman, Nixon empowers Connally to publicly express the administration's firm stance and readiness to force legislative action.

Audio

Download MP3 · 1.9 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).

John?

Yes, sir.

Just wanted to tell you good luck before you went on.

And I had to tell you that on the campaign funding we discussed last night.

I, frankly, just working on it this morning, I finally understood it.

I just think we've got to hold that veto threat right over their heads.

That's where I lean.

I want you to know that in case it comes up.

I'm sure it'll come up.

And if it does, and I want you to say that you've discussed it with the president, or how do you feel you should have it?

I think I ought to say I've discussed it with you, and that you have grave concern about it.

And that it's seriously, that you feel that under the circumstances that...

Now, here's a strategy that I have in mind.

If we veto your information, what we will do is that I will veto and then call the Congress back into special session before Christmas.

And I'll keep the bastards here right through until they pass the tax bill, you see.

Everybody knows of you.

Now, that's the way to play this game.

If they're going to play this, we'll pull a Harry Truman on them.

Mm-hmm.

Yes, sir.

So we're not without tools.

Right.

But I think you can take very strong.

Well, I don't hold you.

I know that, as I am, I'd like to keep going, but I just wish you well.

Everybody's going to be watching.

You go on 1130?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Good luck.

NARA Description

On November 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 11:15 am to 11:16 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-087 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 15-87

Date: November 22, 1971
Time: 11:15 am - 11:16 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     John B. Connally

The President talked with Connally.

[See also Conversation No. 621-44F]

     Connally's press conference
         -Campaign funding
                -Threat of veto
                -Congressional special session
                      -Tax Bill
                      -Harry S Truman example

Also recorded on November 22, 1971

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.
015-085 10:56 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone from 10:56 am to 10:57 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.
015-088 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.
015-090 12:45 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:45 pm and 1:30 pm.

All 62 conversations from November 22, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 015-087, 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/015-087 (accessed October 1, 2026).