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Conversation 018-104

TapeTape 18StartTuesday, January 18, 1972 at 3:28 PMEndTuesday, January 18, 1972 at 3:29 PMTape start time05:01:36Tape end time05:03:09ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Connally, John B.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon directed John Connally to coordinate with Arthur Burns regarding the strategic release and public relations management of the upcoming federal budget message. They discussed leaking information to the Sunday papers to build anticipation, aiming to maximize political impact by framing the initiative as a proposal under consideration. Connally agreed to manage the messaging with Burns to ensure the President could finalize and announce the decision during the official budget release.

Federal budgetPublic relations strategyMedia leaksArthur F. BurnsWhite House communications
AudioNARA Description

On January 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 3:28 pm to 3:29 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 018-104 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 18-104

Date: January 18, 1972
Time: 3:28 pm - 3:29 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John B. Connally.

[See Conversation No. 650-13B]

     Budget message
         -Release
              -Timing
                    -Arthur F. Burns

     Leak on budget
          -Handling
               -Burns
               -Budget message
               -Background

     Announcement
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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 secretary connolly sir yes sir john just in terms if you would handle with arthur guidance could it uh with regard to that uh budget thing i find that the message goes out monday rather than tuesday so the sunday papers is the right-hand leak on the leak however or the leak the way i think it should be handled rather than
rather than giving away the story, is to build it up by you in your own way.
And to the extent that you want to have Arthur do something, just simply say that
that strong consideration is being given to this, recommended by, you see what I mean?
Yes, sir.
Because then when I, the way I plan to do it is when I sign the budget message, then I will state it.
So that will give us two bites of the apple, which is not a great margin.
And so if you and he could both say that,
recommended by and then you can give all the background as to why we think it's a good idea what the problems are and so forth but the president is considering it and we'll make a decision on it and announce it tomorrow all right at the budget message thing that's fine i'll follow through with him good and you tell him i won't call him all right sir all right thank you
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