Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 016-068
Date: Thursday, December 9, 1971 at 11:33 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Jonas, Charles R.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/016-068

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:00] Mr. President, Congressman Charles Jonas.
[0:02] Hello.
[0:04] Hello.
[0:04] Hello.
[0:06] I didn't want my old friend from North Carolina to get a day older without my congratulating you, Charlie.
[0:13] I bet you'd forgotten it was your birthday.
[0:15] Well, no, my friends don't let me forget.
[0:18] That's right.
[0:18] They don't pretend I'm getting older.
[0:20] You know, the other day, Pat had seen Chet Holyfield coming back from Ms. McCormick's funeral.
[0:28] And he had said that, you know, that he was, I had called him because, you know, he's an old friend from California and he's done some awfully good jobs for us in reorganization.
[0:38] So I called him on his birthday.
[0:40] And she said, you know, he said, the best thing, the nice thing, he said, even my wife had forgotten it was my birthday.
[0:47] So anyway, you're no older as far as I'm concerned.
[0:51] You're still a young childer and marcher.
[0:52] Well, wonderful for you.
[0:54] And I wish, I just want to be sure we've always got a Jonas in the Congress, and you know what I mean.
[1:00] Yeah.
[1:01] Or anything else, okay?
[1:02] We had a great blow down there.
[1:03] You heard about Willie Smith Jr.'s death.
[1:07] No, what happened?
[1:07] He and Charles, you know, were...
[1:10] I know, I saw them at the Billy Graham thing.
[1:13] He was killed in an airplane crash Saturday.
[1:17] Oh, my God.
[1:17] Is his mother still living?
[1:19] Yes.
[1:20] I'll give her a call.
[1:22] Well, he's his wife or his mother.
[1:24] Well, you knew his mother.
[1:26] I knew his mother.
[1:26] Well, of course, you knew Willis.
[1:28] Charles.
[1:30] Oh, well, that's your campaign.
[1:33] Oh, listen, he's a wonderful, wonderful boy.
[1:36] I just.
[1:36] Yeah.
[1:36] I guess I didn't hear it.
[1:38] I was gone over the weekend.
[1:42] I think a letter.
[1:43] Well, a letter for sure, but I'll also give him a call.
[1:46] Well, do that.
[1:48] But his wife, his mother is still living?
[1:50] Yes, she's not well, but she is up and about in her home.
[1:55] But his wife is?
[1:56] His wife is there, too.
[1:58] Okay.
[1:58] Now, that would be wonderful if you would do it.
[2:00] I know they would keep him there.
[2:01] Well, anyway.
[2:02] He went out on a limb, you know, for you.
[2:05] Oh, I know he did.
[2:06] I know he did.
[2:07] Yeah, yeah.
[2:09] Well, thanks a million.
[2:09] Well, anyway, we appreciate your friendship, Charlie, and go home tonight and celebrate.
[2:14] Well, thank you.
[2:15] Okay.
[2:16] Thank you.
[2:16] Bye.
[2:17] Bye.