Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 024-052
Date: Tuesday, May 9, 1972 at 12:05 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Radford, Arthur W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/024-052

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Hello?
[0:01] Admiral Radford, Miss President.
[0:04] Ready?
[0:04] Hello?
[0:05] Good morning, sir.
[0:06] Well, I just thought I'd let you know that as I made this decision, I thought, well, this is what Arthur Radford would have recommended.
[0:13] You are certainly right, sir.
[0:14] I was delighted.
[0:15] I listened to every word last night, and I certainly back you 100%.
[0:20] Well, as you know, we've laid it on the line.
[0:22] That's right.
[0:23] It's going to take time.
[0:24] as all these things do, but we just couldn't stand by and let these bastards roll up the South Vietnamese and endanger our people, and that's the way I feel about it.
[0:34] Well, I'm glad we had a man with courage at the helm this time, sir.
[0:39] As you well know, we've laid everything on the line.
[0:41] That's right.
[0:42] We've risked the election, risked the summit and the rest, but the election isn't worth winning if the United States goes down the drain.
[0:47] That's right, sir.
[0:48] Well, I...
[0:49] I know what a lot of thought and prayer you put into this, and I'm sure your decision is going to work out all right.
[0:59] Your old Navy buddies are doing great out there, you know.
[1:01] They laid those mines.
[1:02] They told me I got a report from Laird and Moore.
[1:05] They didn't lose a plane laying them, you know.
[1:08] No, no.
[1:09] I've already talked to them over in the Navy Department this morning.
[1:13] And I tell you, these boys we have out there are good.
[1:17] All of the services are good.
[1:18] Right.
[1:19] And it just hurts me to see them run down by people that don't know anything about it.
[1:23] Well, I think this helps their morale, don't you think?
[1:25] Oh, I do.
[1:26] I do.
[1:27] They've been itching to have this happen.
[1:30] Right.
[1:30] And I certainly wish you the greatest kind of luck in the next few weeks.
[1:36] Well, let's wish the country luck, okay?
[1:37] Fine.
[1:38] Thank you.
[1:38] Bye.