Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 022-009
Date: Thursday, March 23, 1972 at 7:53 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-009
National Archives Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417192985 (NAID 417192985)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] I wanted to be sure that you had McGregor and his people alerted to the fact that they ought to follow up on this Meany thing.
[0:11] You see, Connelly had it this morning.
[0:15] I want to be sure that they held it there to follow up because they feel strongly on this.
[0:22] I think this is one time when they can hit it hard.
[0:23] Do you agree?
[0:24] Professional people.
[0:24] Yeah.
[0:27] Good.
[0:44] All right, fine.
[0:44] Well, we're going to get Scott and Ford and all the others, you know, to really, the people that get on the news, really.
[0:51] be on the side of the president against the special interests, the selfish special interests and all that.
[1:17] Right.
[1:17] Good.
[1:22] Right.
[1:26] Yeah, write it hard over the whole weekend.
[1:36] See, our story tonight will run tomorrow.
[1:40] Connolly will run in the afternoon on Saturday.
[1:45] Well, they may have something marked, but you've got to assume that the congressional people hit it tomorrow.
[1:51] for Saturday also, and Sunday papers.
[1:55] Anybody we can think of that can get something Sunday for Monday might be a good idea, too.
[1:59] I don't know what there is, but...
[2:04] Right.
[2:11] Good.
[2:15] Well, of course, if Hoover's people, Chuck, say that it's done in June,
[2:45] We can't really use our experts.
[2:49] Well, it depends on how, unequivocally, it depends on how much of the, how conclusive they're by nature.
[3:05] And it's the first of course, is the game itself.
[3:06] These fellows in Chicago, who were fellow in Chicago, were absolutely, I don't know, persuaded that it wasn't them.
[3:17] But Hoover's already sent a report up, huh?
[3:41] Yeah.
[3:52] Well, Ehrlichman is supposed to have talked to him this afternoon, but he didn't, though.
[4:03] I know, but the main thing is what happened today.
[4:06] Well, anyway.
[4:15] Oh, I know.
[4:15] All these experts argue with each other like a bunch of women.
[4:26] Right.
[4:39] That's right.
[4:40] Well, we'll see what happens.
[4:53] Yeah.
[4:53] Yeah, that's right.
[4:54] They just leave it incomplete.
[4:56] inconclusive how the hell they can do that well that's just the way they're doing they're dragging everything out
[5:27] picking up every little smidgen of scandal and try to keep it going.
[5:55] Somebody there is leaking to him.
[6:21] Oh, undoubtedly.
[6:31] He may have fixed Conrad, huh?
[6:42] I know.
[6:43] It does make a difference.
[6:47] Be sure you call Ehrlichman and tell him about this, will you?
[6:55] Be sure John knows that Teddy knew it before we did.
[7:00] Sure.
[7:23] That's right.
[7:23] In all departments.
[7:28] That's right.
[7:28] So we got them all through justice, even in the Bureau.
[7:47] Sure.
[7:49] He knew it.
[7:52] You know.
[7:58] I think, on the other hand, he was probably surprised we took him on so hard, don't you think?
[8:02] Or do you?
[8:03] I don't know.
[8:09] Particularly from his conversation, you see, as I say, George, by going in and being very nice to him, indicates, well, we're going to soft-love him, and he does.
[8:16] Well, there was an interesting little quote out of a labor official today that was on the wire.
[8:36] He said, I expect that Nixon will wait a couple of weeks and let the dust settle, and see what he does next.
[8:39] And that was the point.
[8:39] And that's an AFL-CIO theory.
[8:40] And I am sure it's a neat figure.
[8:40] And that was just ITT publicity about the Iowa big business.
[8:42] But if he came crashing in on us, we would go up there and try to figure out how to get him back in the boat.
[9:01] Oh, yes.
[9:01] And he would tell us to go to hell, but I can't look back.
[9:02] Oh, sure.
[9:02] I don't think he expected you to walk out there and let him have us today.
[9:04] I'm sure he did.
[9:04] I'm sure he did.
[9:05] And I'm sure he's also, because he's climbing the walls.
[9:06] That's just crazy.
[9:06] Correct, good.
[9:09] Keep Fitz on the line.
[9:27] Right.
[9:30] Well, Meany has never been any friend of Fitz's either.
[9:35] He hates the fact that Meany tries to order him around, and that Meany is considering himself to be a representative of labor.
[9:55] Right.
[9:55] And that's why, when you had that breakfast with me, I immediately took to your notes, because we've got Fitz coming in now.
[9:59] Right.
[9:59] Because Meany always holds this over.
[10:00] Meany called him Monday and said, I want you in my office at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning, so I won't be there.
[10:02] Good.
[10:02] And what Fitz is really enjoying now, and what Meany is going crazy over, is that labor people want to...
[10:05] get anything into the board.
[10:11] And, you know, the building trades are going to want it.
[10:12] They've got to go to the consumer.
[10:13] And that's going to put me in an element.
[10:54] Let's see if Erlichman knows that Teddy Kennedy knew about this, though.
[11:00] That's a very, very disturbing thing.
[11:06] Well, it is.
[11:06] I'll get that to him tonight.
[11:07] Okay, thank you.