Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 015-119
Date: Tuesday, November 23, 1971 at 5:44 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-119

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Yes, sir.
[0:05] Let me spend a minute to be sure that I know.
[0:09] We meet tomorrow at 10, I understand, with Schultz and Ehrlichman, and that's on budget, that's on tax.
[0:16] And at 1130, it says here that you and Burns and I meet.
[0:21] I don't believe I'd been notified of that, but that's fine.
[0:24] Yeah, well, the only thing I was... Well, apparently he's coming.
[0:28] The only thing I was wondering about is...
[0:31] whether or not you and I and Kissinger and Schultz ought to sit down to get our ducks in a row before we talk to Burns.
[0:41] Remember, you said the day that you thought that the whole group ought to meet with Burns or something.
[0:45] Yes, sir.
[0:46] And I'm just trying to...
[0:48] So I can clear an earlier morning thing for you, like a 9 o'clock thing.
[0:54] But you tell me what you think is the best plan, because the one thing I'm concerned about, John...
[0:58] I think it's very important that we get Burns lined up so that he doesn't go over there and try to call the signals.
[1:05] Yes, sir.
[1:06] Don't you agree?
[1:06] Yes, sir.
[1:07] He's got to support whatever you do, you see.
[1:10] Here's what I thought might work out.
[1:12] I'm going to have breakfast with him in the morning.
[1:15] With Burns?
[1:15] Yes, sir.
[1:16] Good.
[1:18] I'm going to hit him primarily on the money thing and then try to set him up for you to hit him on the money supply.
[1:24] All right, good.
[1:25] And then while we're there, make that the principal point of discussion.
[1:28] But then get into this other thing and just say, now, y'all tell me how you analyze this thing.
[1:34] And let both of us talk.
[1:36] Let him talk.
[1:36] Let me talk.
[1:38] And then you say, well, let me think about this.
[1:40] And then, frankly, I want to talk to Henry.
[1:42] There's some foreign policy things in here.
[1:44] And I want to talk to George some about this.
[1:47] What I probably will do is get all of you all back together and we'll thrice this out and settle it.
[1:52] And I'll give you some directions.
[1:54] and maybe the next day.
[1:57] Well, the next day is Thanksgiving.
[1:58] Oh, that's right.
[1:59] Well, maybe tomorrow afternoon.
[2:00] Tomorrow afternoon, you'd call... Then call Henry.
[2:06] See, I'll be gone, unfortunately, but Henry will be gone.
[2:09] See, I'll be gone Friday.
[2:10] I've got to go to California, see, for that Eisenhower thing.
[2:13] Well, I see.
[2:14] Well...
[2:15] How about doing it late in the afternoon Friday?
[2:19] Wednesday, I mean.
[2:19] Sure, do it late tomorrow afternoon.
[2:21] Is 5 o'clock all right with you?
[2:22] Sure.
[2:23] I'll tell you, we could do it a little earlier.
[2:25] How about 4.30?
[2:26] That's fine.
[2:27] 4.30 is... We set up a meeting then of what people?
[2:32] I would say Arthur, me, George, me.
[2:36] That's right, and myself.
[2:37] And you.
[2:37] That's all.
[2:38] Okay.
[2:39] 4.30 for the group.
[2:40] The full group.
[2:41] That'll give him the feeling that he got...
[2:44] He got consulted.
[2:45] He got consulted.
[2:46] But then at the 4.30 meeting, we should have our ducks in a row.
[2:49] Yes, sir.
[2:49] And I ought to lay it out there.
[2:51] Yes, sir.
[2:51] Fine.
[2:51] That's a correction.
[2:52] And I should tell him at 11.30 that I'm going to think about this thing and that we ought to get together at 4.30.
[2:58] All right, I'll see that the others are informed.
[3:01] And shall I see that he's told that he wants to come back at 4.30 so that he keeps the time?
[3:06] Or do you want to tell him?
[3:07] No, I think you better have it done from here.
[3:09] Yes, sir, I think you better come from there.
[3:12] Okay, I'll do that.
[3:13] All right, thank you.
[3:13] Thank you.