President Nixon and Robert Finch discussed the political fallout surrounding the ITT controversy and the administration’s response to school busing. They evaluated potential negative impacts on the Republican Party and examined specific allegations involving Dita Beard and Edwin Reinecke. Nixon emphasized his lack of personal involvement in the California site selection process and strategized on managing public perception regarding these high-stakes political issues.
On March 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Robert H. Finch talked on the telephone from 11:19 pm to 11:26 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-100 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 21-100
Date: March 16, 1972
Time: 11:19 pm - 11:26 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Robert H. Finch.
Busing speech
-West Coast reaction
-Finch’s location
-Finch’s schedule
-Forthcoming press conference in Los Angeles
-Constitutional amendment
-Moratorium
-Legislation
-Delivery
-California interest
-New Hampshire
-Wisconsin
International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] case
-Network coverage
-Effect on administration
-Effect on the Republican Party
-Big business
-Dita D. Beard memorandum
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Finch’s view
-Edwin Reinecke
-Involvement
-Nixon’s lack of involvement in California site decision
-Finch’s statement
-Robert J. Dole’s statement
-Nixon’s choices
-Chicago
-Midwest
-San Diego
-Miami
-Contributions
-Reinecke
Busing speech
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
Duration: 2m 35s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.