Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 019-057
Date: Monday, January 24, 1972 at 7:08 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/019-057

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:05] Hello.
[0:05] Hello.
[0:06] Yes, sir.
[0:06] John, I didn't want to bother you at home, but I was talking to Pete Flanagan about that ambassadorship to Germany.
[0:14] Yes, sir.
[0:15] As you know, Clement has said no.
[0:18] Yes, sir.
[0:18] But he was mentioning Paget.
[0:21] Do you think there's a possibility we could get him?
[0:24] Yes, sir.
[0:26] Well, the only reason I say that is simply that he sold his company, as I understand it, to the First National Committee.
[0:41] I don't know why they couldn't draw him loose.
[0:42] But, you know, I have no indication of others.
[0:44] What is your impression of him?
[0:45] As far as he is a very able fellow, smart, works, efficient.
[0:53] uh level-headed never loses his equilibrium or his toys never is not too talkative yet it's uh friendly uh not uh not a gregarious or uh obnoxiously uh gregarious fellow but meets people well handles himself well uh i've never seen a week since verifying good good but he'd be the kind of a fellow that fit the germans very well oh i would think so uh
[1:22] He has a wooden leg.
[1:27] Oh, that's no problem.
[1:29] But he moves around, you'd never know it, or a wooden foot, and I guess he lost it.
[1:35] I'm not sure whether he lost it in the war or in the wreck.
[1:36] I believe it was in the wreck, but I'm not sure.
[1:38] But in any event, he moves well, and apparently there's no disability to him at all.
[1:39] Let me ask you, do you think you could mention it to him?
[1:43] Would you mind asking if he would consider it?
[1:46] I don't mind at all.
[1:47] Because you see, you were quite close to him.
[1:49] I've known him since World War II days.
[1:52] Oh.
[1:53] Very young fellow in the Navy Department.
[1:56] Before the Ash Council.
[1:58] Oh, he was doing cost accounting work.
[2:01] Is that right?
[2:04] He helped organize the Navy Procurement Office in 1942.
[2:05] Well, I'll tell you.
[2:06] If you could, you give him a call.
[2:08] Just say that we'd like to have him consider it.
[2:11] See if he might.
[2:12] Well, I'll just sign him out.
[2:13] Sure.
[2:14] Well, no, if he's willing, we'll offer it.
[2:18] That's what we'll do.
[2:19] Right, right.
[2:21] That's right.
[2:22] Oh, sure, sure.
[2:23] Fine.
[2:23] Good.
[2:24] Okay, John.
[2:25] Thank you.