← 017-033017-035 →

Conversation 017-034

TapeTape 17StartFriday, December 24, 1971 at 5:25 PMEndFriday, December 24, 1971 at 5:28 PMTape start time01:37:52Tape end time01:41:51ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Flanigan, Peter M.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Peter M. Flanigan discussed the recruitment of Frederick M. Eaton for a high-level diplomatic post, which the President emphasized was a personal priority rather than a recommendation from Henry Kissinger. Nixon instructed Flanigan to coordinate with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to ensure the administration viewed this appointment as a significant strategic coup. They finalized plans for Eaton to meet with the President at his Florida residence the following Monday at noon.

Frederick M. EatonDiplomatic appointmentsWilliam P. RogersPersonnel managementPresidential scheduling
AudioNARA Description

On December 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Peter M. Flanigan talked on the telephone from 5:25 pm to 5:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-034 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-34

Date: December 24, 1971
Time: 5:25 pm - 5:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House Operator.

     Call from Peter M. Flanigan

The President talked with Flanigan.

     Christmas greetings

     Fredrick M. Eaton
          -Post
                -Argentina [?]
          -Henry A. Kissinger
          -William P. Rogers
          -Significance of post
          -Negotiations
          -Rogers
                -Flanigan’s forthcoming talk with Rogers concerning Eaton
                -Hubert H. Humphrey [?]
          -Talk with the President
          -Visit to islands
          -The President's schedule
                -Florida
                -Meeting with Eaton
                       -Time
          -Rogers
          -Kissinger
          -Donald McI. Kendall
                -George S. Moore
                       -National City Bank
                       -Rogers
                       -Jack Drown

                     -Appointment
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
Hello.
Hello, Pete?
How are you?
Merry Christmas.
That's what I always want to tell you first.
That's fair.
Oh, how'd it go?
Do you like it?
Great.
Thank you.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Has he talked to Rogers yet?
Oh, sure.
Well, of course, we consider this, as you know, the most important post in the world right now.
And naturally, he'll be at the highest level.
We're not sending him over there as an errand boy.
What we want.
I would say that your next step would be to inform Bill.
Tell Bill that this is the guy that I think it's a real coup to get him.
I think it's good that he was for Humphrey, that he's a hell of an outstanding guy.
Okay.
He can.
He can.
Sure.
I wonder how you feel about him dropping in on Monday.
Well, unfortunately, I will be in Florida.
I'm going down Sunday night.
I'll be in Florida.
I'd have no objection to seeing me in Florida.
Sure, sure.
As a matter of fact, I'll be there, and he can drop by there.
Fine.
I'll see him there.
And so around 11 o'clock.
Yeah, 11, or if he can't do it then, well, the morning is a little better than the afternoon, because then it'll, if he can make it.
Oh, 11 or 12.
Make it 12.
Then he has to fly down to get up, sir.
Good.
Make it 12 o'clock.
All right.
But if you will be sure to call Bill on this to keep telling him that this is the choice, and I think it's a real coup to get him.
And that he's my choice, you know what I mean?
Okay.
Not Henry's.
He's mine.
All right.
Yeah.
Yeah, he's quite a fellow.
Yeah, I always liked him, but, you know, he's a very, very savvy fellow.
Yes, he's very, very smooth.
Well, try him.
Try him.
That'd be good.
uh you might uh when you talk to bill tell him that that's my feeling bill knows him i'm sure everybody knows george more but there's there's another classy appointment you know if you get they're both out of new york but that's okay well the thing is he's just a very outstanding guy
That's all right.
Well, at least I want him to have it offered to him, you know, as much as anything else.
Well, you've done that.
Okay, Pete.
Bye.
Get a little rest.
Bye.
← 017-033017-035 →