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Conversation 020-063

TapeTape 20StartTuesday, February 8, 1972 at 2:49 PMEndTuesday, February 8, 1972 at 2:51 PMTape start time02:09:28Tape end time02:11:25ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Scott, HughRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon calls Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott to commend him on the positive press coverage received following a recent leadership conference statement. The two discuss political strategies for criticizing Democratic presidential candidates Edmund Muskie and George McGovern, characterizing their policy positions as impediments to peace negotiations in Vietnam. Nixon encourages Scott to emphasize that these Democrats are effectively sabotaging potential peace settlements ahead of the 1972 election.

Hugh ScottVietnam War1972 Presidential ElectionEdmund MuskieGeorge McGovernPeace NegotiationsMedia Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 2:49 pm to 2:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-063 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 20-63

Date: February 8, 1972
Time: 2:49 pm - 2:51 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Hugh Scott.

     Scott statement after leadership conference
           -Ronald L. Ziegler
           -Wire play
           -Enthusiasm of statement
           -Vietnam negotiations
                -Los Angeles Times coverage
                      -Attack on Edmund S. Muskie
                             -Reason
                -Attack on George S. McGovern
                -Proffer of peace terms
                      -Consequence
                             -Timing of possible settlement
                                  -1972 election
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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, Mr. President.
Hugh Scott.
Oh, Hugh.
Yes.
I didn't have anything to bother you with, but just talking to Ziegler, and he said that the statement you made after the leadership is getting a good play on the wire.
Oh, good.
And I thought you should know again, though, that I talked to two or three afterwards, and
And, you know, you like to hear good things when they're good, but some of the fellows told me they had never heard you better.
Oh.
I mean, you really got wound up.
And I said, well, you know, I said, Scott really is a mean bastard.
I said, you just don't realize it.
You know, they forget you were once a party chairman, huh?
Remember?
Yes, sir.
It takes me a little while to wind up, you know.
But you're on the right side, let me tell you.
I'm uptight about it.
You're on the right side, and don't you think so?
Yes, sir.
I'm giving a story to the Los Angeles Times this afternoon, guarded, but generally they're pressing to say, why is Muskie the target?
And the answer is that the people who present certain positions...
uh as alternatives who foul up hanoi's negotiation make themselves the target it doesn't sure necessarily be the same one in a given week sure that's the trying to create an opinion that we're zeroing in on a single person no you're you're zeroing in on mcgovern too certainly that's what you say mcgovern muskie those people that are offering the enemy better terms
than the president has offered them are, in effect, torpedoing the chances to get a settlement before the election.
I think the idea that they, in effect, are destroying the chance to have peace before November, isn't that a good thing?
That is, and I'm using the phrase that they are fouling up the negotiation.
Right.
Well, good luck.
Thank you.
I appreciate it, sir, and I'll keep at it.
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