Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-066

Nixon phone call with Ruth on Birthday greetings and Federal deficit

Tuesday, February 8, 1972 · 2:54 PM–2:56 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ruth, Earl B.Conversation020-066 on Tape 20 (tape position 02:11:54–02:13:10)StartTuesday, February 8, 1972 at 2:54 PMEndTuesday, February 8, 1972 at 2:56 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-066 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned Representative Earl B. Ruth to extend birthday greetings and express appreciation for his legislative support. The discussion briefly transitioned to the political sensitivity surrounding federal deficit spending and employment goals. Ruth assured the President that he would provide his vote on the budget if necessary, despite his personal opposition to deficit spending.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I haven't got anything important except to say Timmons was telling me you had a birthday yesterday and I didn't want to miss my old Tar Heel friend.
I didn't realize you were such an old fella.
You know, if you keep going, you're going to catch up with me before too long.
I'm only three years ahead of you.
Well, thank you.
Did you have a good day?
Thank you very much.
Did you have a good party, I hope?
Yeah, the office was very kind to me.
We had a big time.
Great, great.
Well, we appreciate your good support.
Good, thank you.
Mr. President, I'm sure you didn't call me for this, but with regard to you...
deficit.
I've always voted the other way, but I have told Jerry that if you needed me, I'd be in the well.
If I vote against it, it's because you don't need me, but if you need me, I'll be there.
I understand.
You know how I feel.
I hate deficits as much as you do, but the main thing we're trying to do, Earl, is, of course, North Carolina is fortunately doing better on the employment side than some other states, but the main thing, we're just trying to get that damn unemployment down, and this is one thing that the experts tell us, so
But believe me, you're going to see a balanced budget while I'm in this office.
Well, I appreciate it.
It might be a nice call, but you can count on me.
Okay.
Thanks, Earl.
Thank you very much.

NARA Description

On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Earl B. Ruth talked on the telephone from 2:54 pm to 2:56 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-066 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-66

Date: February 8, 1972
Time: 2:54 pm - 2:56 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Earl B. Ruth.

[See Conversation No. 320-24]

     Birthday greetings
          -William E. Timmons
          -Celebration
          -Appreciation of support

     Vote on deficit
          -Gerald R. Ford
          -North Carolina employment outlook
          -Employment problem
          -Balanced budget

Also recorded on February 8, 1972

  • 020-064 2:51 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 020-065 2:51 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-020 2:51 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-021 2:51 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-022 2:51 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-023 2:51 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-024 2:54 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Earl B. Ruth met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:54 pm to 2:56 pm.
  • 020-067 2:57 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Robert H. Finch talked on the telephone from 2:57 pm to 3:01 pm.

All 48 conversations from February 8, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-066, February 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-066 (accessed October 2, 2026).