Conversation 018-010

TapeTape 18StartMonday, January 3, 1972 at 12:16 PMEndMonday, January 3, 1972 at 12:18 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.; Weinberger, Caspar W. ("Cap")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone

AI Summary

President Nixon recounted an anecdote about Harry Hopkins and the Works Progress Administration to George Shultz and Caspar Weinberger to illustrate his frustration with departmental budget or supply requests. The President used the story, which involved a director being told to have his workers 'lean on each other' rather than receive more shovels, as a directive for Shultz and Weinberger to relay a message of fiscal restraint to Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. The call served as a lighthearted but firm instruction to curb administrative spending.

Fiscal policyBudgetary restraintMelvin R. LairdGovernment administrationHumor

Audio

NARA Description

On January 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, and Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 12:18 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 018-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 18-10

Date: January 3, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:16 pm and 12:18 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George P. Shultz and Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger.

[See Conversation No. 642-34]

     The President's call to George E. Allen
          -Harry Hopkins story about requisition for shovels
               -Public Works Administration [PWA]
               -Works Progress Administration [WPA]
          -Melvin R. Laird

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Schultz and Mr. Weinberger.

Hello.

Yes, sir.

Well, I just got a call, talked to George Allen on the story better than I thought.

Back in the 30s, in the early, when Harry Hopkins was here, and he was in charge of PWA or WPA, I don't know which it was, but one of those two.

He got a wire.

desperately from the PWA director in California, asking for approval of a requisition for 5,000 shovels.

And Hopkins ripped off a wire back to him and said, tell them to lean on each other.

So you tell Laird to have them lean on each other.

Fair enough.

Very good, sir.

Now that's the laugh for the year, and you can pass it to all the staff, Cap.

Thank you.

Okay.

Very good.

Thanks a lot.

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