Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 22 › Conversation 022-117

Nixon phone call with Connally on Federal Reserve and Arthur Burns

Wednesday, April 12, 1972 · 11:33 AM–11:36 AM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.Conversation022-117 on Tape 22 (tape position 04:34:42–04:37:09)StartWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 11:33 AMEndWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 11:36 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 022-117 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consults John B. Connally regarding the selection of a new member for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where they agree to appoint a younger candidate to ensure longevity and malleability under Arthur Burns. Additionally, the two discuss a controversial civil suit filed by the U.S. government against Price Daniel involving Tidelands rights. Nixon expresses frustration that a government attorney involved in previous Tidelands litigation is responsible for the new brief and suggests the matter needs immediate intervention.

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Secretary Connolly.
Hello.
Yes, sir.
Hi, John.
How are you, sir?
I want to check two things with you.
First, I didn't want to say it while Arthur was here, but I lean to the younger man.
Is that all right with you?
Yes, sir.
you've seen them both.
I don't want to get into trying to see these men because then you get personally involved.
But is the younger man all right?
Yes, sir.
He's the better of the two.
Elder man, he's just right on the edge of retirement, that's all.
Well, anyway, it's contrary to my thing.
So I'm approving it.
I don't think you should know.
I'm not saying a word.
I'm just...
just initial it and i sent it over and that's the way it'll be all right i won't and let me say it yeah well archer if he says anything like i thought it over i think i'll just wait a day so i didn't think i thought about it right the other thing is be sure john on those next guys let's come up with i i like this idea of these young bucks don't you yes sir point is they can go on for three four years and then we'll move them to something that's correct but uh when i say young uh 50 or under i could agree more because i think you have to
And they need this.
You know, I put it to Arthur, and I said, look, Arthur, you can mold this young man.
That's right.
And he will.
He can.
That's exactly right.
I got your message on that Christ Daniel thing.
You know, this is so goddamn ridiculous, because...
It shows you how you've got to watch every departmental judgment.
John, I'm from California, and as Price probably told you, what the hell in the House and the Senate, I, of course, as a Californian, and along with old Bill Nolan as a senator, heck, we led the fight for the three-mile, the Tidelands thing.
That's correct.
Now, this is the same issue, isn't it?
Yes, sir.
Same issue.
The Attorney General and Price both called me last Friday and just up in arms.
This is a suit brought by the U.S. government?
Yes, sir.
Sure is.
What can be done about such a situation?
Well, I don't know.
I haven't talked to Bill, I mean, to Dick about it.
Poor devil's got so many problems.
Yeah, well, let me interfere with you.
It's probably in a department.
Let me tell you what I'll do.
I think it's probably in one of those civil...
It's a civil suit.
It's a civil suit.
It is not.
In the lands division, I believe.
I'm not sure.
Yeah, some jackass over there probably won't be there.
That's right.
Well, the brief, Price said the brief is filed by the same guy that was there during the days of the Tidelands fight.
Yeah, yeah.
He said that guy's still there.
His name is on the damn brief.
Amen.

NARA Description

On April 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 11:33 am to 11:36 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-117 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 22-117

Date: April 12, 1972
Time: 11:33 am - 11:36 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John B. Connally.

[See Conversation No. 707-10A]

     Selection of a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

          -Arthur F. Burns
          -[Jeffrey M. Bucher]
                -Connally’s view
          -[Forename unknown] Krebs
                -Connally’s view
          -The President’s approval for post
                -Delay
                     -Burns

     Appointments
         -Youthful candidates
              -Advantages
              -Burns

     Price Daniel
           -Connally’s message to the President
                 -Connally’s talk with Daniel
                       -The President’s early support
                       -William F. Knowland
                       -Tidelands bill
           -Connally’s talk with Attorney General and Daniel
           -US Government suit
           -Richard G. Kleindienst
           -Civil suit
                 -Lands division
           -Daniel
                 -Brief
                 -Tidelands fight
                       -Unknown man

The conversation was cut off at 11:36 am.

Also recorded on April 12, 1972

  • 707-005 10:14 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:14 am to 10:26 am.
  • 707-006 10:26 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:26 am and 10:32 am.
  • 707-007 10:26 AM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:26 am and 10:32 am.
  • 022-116 11:22 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:33 am.
  • 707-008 11:22 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:33 am.
  • 707-009 11:22 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:33 am.
  • 707-010 11:33 AM · 2 hr 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John B. Connally, John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander P. Butterfield, Beverly J. Kaye, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:33 am to 1:40 pm.
  • 330-032 1:40 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:40 pm and 2:47 pm.

All 37 conversations from April 12, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 022-117, April 12, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-117 (accessed October 1, 2026).