Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 025-046
Date: Monday, June 12, 1972 at 9:56 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Lukash, William M.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/025-046

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Yeah.
[0:03] What is the latest on Wallace at this time?
[0:07] The doctor called me yesterday morning and he's been coming along.
[0:11] The big problem has been nutrition.
[0:14] He's starting to gain weight.
[0:16] He's had several visitors.
[0:19] Yeah, I've seen that in the papers.
[0:20] His feeling is, in fact, the doctor would like to get him back to Alabama.
[0:24] But he now feels so secure with his doctor and
[0:27] whether it's politically expeditious for him to stay here, but he wants to stay here at Holy Cross.
[0:33] And he's been taking visitors quite well.
[0:37] There's one infection where he had one of the stomach drains that's still been a little bit of a problem.
[0:44] But as far as that, it's a good chance that he could make
[0:50] the convention in some weather you know probably in a wheelchair situation and with this infection they're a little hesitant to operate on that bullet and that'll be if they were to clear this little infection the bullet operation they feel would not be too much of a problem but as it stands now his morale is good and he's taking visitors and he's kind of locked in the
[1:16] staying here in the area, rather.
[1:18] Some of his political cronies, of course, in Alabama feel he should be coming back to Alabama, but he's become very dependent on the state.
[1:26] What is the situation with regard to paralysis?
[1:28] That looks like it's going to be pretty final at this stage.
[1:34] He's got a little bit of muscle strength in the left hip.
[1:40] The remainder of that leg and then the whole right hip and leg.
[1:45] So the paralysis is just a fact.
[1:48] Yes, sir.
[1:48] And the question is, with the left upper hip and both hips handling braces, any little that he is retaining will help when it comes to the brace situation.
[2:01] Any what?
[2:02] Any little?
[2:03] Any proximal, any upper muscle mantle help places on the paralyzed part.
[2:08] Right, right.
[2:10] Fine.
[2:10] Let them know that I called with regard to his condition, you know?
[2:17] Yes, sir.
[2:17] I called Mrs. Wallace from time to time.
[2:20] Fine.
[2:20] You might give her a call.
[2:21] Just say that I called today and was delighted to hear that he was making good progress.
[2:24] Yes, sir.