Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 020-030
Date: Wednesday, February 2, 1972 at 3:03 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-030

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Hello.
[0:02] Mr. Hallman, Mr. President.
[0:06] Hello.
[0:06] Oh, I had talked to, I just finished talking with Henry on this muskie thing and so forth.
[0:13] I wondered if you were going to propose to Bill that he answer the thing, or if you had done so.
[0:20] Well, working on what we do on answers, I think we probably should, but the question is, you know, if he doesn't get any play, whether we make a mistake by building him up.
[0:31] I mean, by building up the attack.
[0:33] Well, I wonder if you aren't getting a ride.
[0:37] If you aren't missing an opportunity, however, to nail him with a... Maybe.
[0:43] I mean, I'm just dictating a little memorandum to you for a discussion with Buchanan so that he can write up the talking points.
[0:50] And I'll finish it within another 10 or 15 minutes.
[0:53] But the point is that here's...
[0:55] I mean, he is wide open on the...
[0:57] idea.
[0:59] First, those who got us into the war are sabotaging the President's efforts to get us out.
[1:03] That's musky.
[1:06] And so on down the line.
[1:09] But you think the best thing to do is just to wait and let it get a ride first and then attack?
[1:20] Not on the low level.
[1:22] answer attack because whatever it rides with needs to ride with an answer.
[1:27] Yeah, that's the point, yeah.
[1:29] Well, I'll go ahead and dictate this answer and then send it over to you.
[1:36] Okay.
[1:36] Or dictate some talking points that maybe can be made and we'll see.
[1:41] All right.
[1:42] But who would be the low-level one that could do it?
[1:45] Have you got any candidates?
[1:46] Scott, maybe?
[1:48] Let me check and see what we've got on the hill.
[1:50] It depends.
[1:51] If we can get
[1:53] If something's gotten, if we've been trying to push that first, if something's moving on that and that's getting as much level as his thing is, it may be better to leave it there.
[2:03] I don't know.
[2:04] Maybe we want to escalate it and push it up with Bill.
[2:07] All right, fine.
[2:08] Well, let me just think my thoughts through first, okay?
[2:10] Yes, sir.