Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 017-050
Date: Friday, December 24, 1971 at 9:22 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kendall, Donald McI.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kendall, Donald McI.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-050

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. Dan Kendall, sir.
[0:30] Also, I thought you should know that I just talked to Pete Feinigan earlier today.
[0:34] He told me about your suggestion to George Moore.
[0:37] We're going to offer him that ambassadorship in Argentina, if he'll take it.
[0:45] Well, I think if he gets the word that you want him to do it, I mean, of course, he'll probably do it.
[0:47] Well, I'll tell you what.
[0:49] I'm going to have Pete hit him.
[0:51] And then if he doesn't indicate that he...
[0:57] You know, if he indicates anything, I'll have Pete give you a ring and ask you to call him, too, see?
[1:01] And then, of course, I'll call him if he's in any way receptive.
[1:06] He would be ideal.
[1:07] You see, we need a very strong man there, and he's a banker, he knows Spanish, he has great prestige, and he's got great dignity, and he'd just be perfect for the job.
[1:18] Oh, I think he would be.
[1:18] You know, the only better guy for it would be you, but I need you here.
[1:21] Now, that's the truth.
[1:24] Well, I need the money that I'm making, too.
[1:27] Oh, you don't need the money.
[1:29] No, but we need you, my guy.
[1:31] I don't know anybody else to furnish me the golf balls.
[2:28] So tell him to keep his spirit up.
[2:30] I certainly will, and it was very nice of you to call, and I certainly appreciate it.
[2:37] If there's anything I can do on the Morse situation, I certainly will.
[2:39] Yeah, well, we'll see.
[2:40] He may have a personal problem, but Pete's going to feel him out, and then we're going to look at what we've had over the weekend.
[2:50] Did Maury tell you about my negotiations in Moscow?
[2:51] Not yet.
[2:53] That's very good.
[2:55] Maury told me that he had put the...
[2:57] that he raised the subject, you know, with him.
[3:01] Apparently he had some talks about the thing himself.
[3:07] Well, actually, Maury and I talked for a few years together when we got into the discussion on this, and I had a meeting with him that morning, and then spent the afternoon with the college guys.
[3:22] Great, great.
[3:22] And I think we're going to work a deal on our... We'll get their vibes, and we'll get Pepsi in, and we'll have a happy turn to...
[3:25] Well, just don't have me drink the damn vodka.
[3:34] You can sell it to other people.
[3:38] No, it'll be a great deal.
[3:47] Well, I'll keep it in mind, you know.
[3:48] It might be a chance.
[3:50] I don't know what they're going to set up at this point, but by April we should know.
[3:54] No, I'm serious.
[4:01] I would love to make that trip again.
[4:03] All right.
[4:03] I'd rather make that one than the China one.
[4:04] Yeah.
[4:04] Well, you wouldn't get to do much in China anyway.
[4:07] Yeah.
[4:08] Well, anyway.
[4:15] It's very interesting.
[4:16] I told Mari that when you got back from your whirlwind visit, I think it would be very good if...
[4:19] If we could get Jack Towers and maybe Bob Binkersall and Maury and I to sit down and have a few minutes with you and tell you what we found out in our discussions over there, because we all had negotiations, I think you'd be very interested in the results.
[4:39] Good, good will.
[4:39] It's all a result of what you've done in China.
[4:41] It just turns the whole thing around.
[4:42] It's not unbelievable.
[4:43] Well, we just hope that it continues along that line later on.
[4:45] The Russians, of course, played a pretty hard game in some places in the world.
[4:50] But we can work something out here that'll help.
[5:14] Sure.
[5:14] Well, that's just fine.
[5:16] We'll keep them guessing.
[5:21] Sure have.
[5:22] Beautiful job.
[5:22] Well, Don, give my best to Ben.
[5:27] Great year for you.
[5:27] Congratulations.
[5:27] Thank God you're there.
[5:28] We just keep the economy going.
[5:29] How have your sales been?
[5:31] I hope they're good.
[5:40] Really, we're going to end up 10% ahead this year.
[5:41] We just completed our forecast for next year.
[5:42] As a matter of fact, when Pete called me, the one thing we're concerned about in our forecast next year is our decision.
[5:45] because we've got such a tremendous investment.
[5:50] If that thing turns around, it won't.
[5:51] I think if we get a good, strong ambassador, we can... You think George could do it, don't you?
[6:01] I do, and I don't...
[6:02] The guy you've got is wonderful, but he's great for the full-time people.
[6:03] I know what you mean.
[6:04] Well, remember, you told me that before.
[6:05] I think George has got enough control, he's got enough prestige to do what he needs to do.
[6:13] But if we can get him, we're going to do it.
[6:14] If we don't, we're going to get another business type down there.
[6:17] That's what I think we need.
[6:20] I gave Pete a second name on it.
[6:21] I think he has to speak Spanish, though.
[6:22] That's the problem.
[6:23] Yes, well, the second, Jack Duncan, who is a W.R. Gray.
[6:33] Yeah.
[6:34] He would put it at one point for Meyer's job.
[6:36] Mm-hmm.
[6:36] Well, we'll...
[6:39] Pick Meyer's and get nine more, which we better be getting.
[6:41] Good.
[6:41] Okay, Don.
[6:41] We'll take a...
[6:43] All right, John.
[6:44] Goodbye.