Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 15 › Conversation 015-121

Nixon phone call with Connally on Council of Economic Advisers

Tuesday, November 23, 1971 · 5:58 PM–5:59 PM ET · White House Telephone · 58 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; Connally, John B.Conversation015-121 on Tape 15 (tape position 03:43:31–03:44:29)StartTuesday, November 23, 1971 at 5:58 PMEndTuesday, November 23, 1971 at 5:59 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 015-121 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted Secretary of the Treasury John Connally regarding the appointment of a new Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) chair to succeed Paul W. McCracken. Nixon expressed his preference for Herbert Stein, emphasizing his intelligence, loyalty, and suitability for an election year. Connally validated the choice, prompting Nixon to finalize the decision and prepare for an announcement the following day.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Secretary.
Yes, sir.
John, I wanted to check this with you before I talk to the fellow.
George, you know, I've been having him check this CEA thing.
Right.
I don't want the McCrackens getting out the league, but as far as you're concerned, is Stein all right with you?
Yes, sir.
I think he's the best.
You see, you get a new man and then you have...
difficulty is fine it'd have to quit that's a problem but how do you feel about him he's a strong guy he's smart he's strong he's loyal he's right he knows that he knows what's going on he knows and going into the last year here in the election year i don't know where you go to beat him well he's uh he knows everybody everybody works well with all right
It's all right with you.
I'll go forward with it and announce it tomorrow then.
All right.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On November 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 5:58 pm to 5:59 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-121 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 15-121

Date: November 23, 1971
Time: 5:58 pm - 5:59 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     John B. Connally

The President talked with Connally.

[See also Conversation No. 623-24F]

     Council of Economic Advisors [CEA] appointment
         -George P. Shultz
         -Paul W. McCracken
         -Herbert Stein

Also recorded on November 23, 1971

  • 015-120 5:47 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:47 pm and 5:58 pm.
  • 015-122 6:02 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Norman Van Brocklin talked on the telephone from 6:02 pm to 6:05 pm.
  • 015-123 6:07 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:07 pm and 6:08 pm.
  • 623-025 6:07 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:07 pm and 6:08 pm.
  • 623-026 6:07 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:07 pm and 6:08 pm.
  • 623-027 6:07 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:07 pm and 6:08 pm.
  • 623-028 6:07 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:07 pm and 6:08 pm.
  • 623-029 6:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:08 pm and 6:10 pm.

All 49 conversations from November 23, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 015-121, November 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-121 (accessed October 12, 2026).