Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 26 › Conversation 026-055

Nixon phone call with Weinberger on Public Broadcasting and Budget Policy

Friday, June 30, 1972 · 3:24 PM–3:28 PM ET · White House Telephone · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Weinberger, Caspar W. ("Cap")Conversation026-055 on Tape 26 (tape position 02:16:26–02:21:06)StartFriday, June 30, 1972 at 3:24 PMEndFriday, June 30, 1972 at 3:28 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 026-055 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with OMB Director Caspar Weinberger regarding fiscal constraints and legislative strategies. The President directed a reduction in the public broadcasting budget request from $45 million to previous levels, overriding potential objections from staff like Peter Flanigan. Additionally, they discussed the possibility of vetoing a Social Security bill due to a $3 billion amendment, with Nixon instructing Weinberger to coordinate with Clark MacGregor and George Shultz on the administration's opposition.

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Position in tape: 02:16:26 – 02:21:06

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. Weinberger, sir?
Yes, sir.
I want you to work something out on that public broadcasting.
I vetoed that bill today.
Yes.
I want you to work something out withdrawing the $45 million request.
I don't want a goddamn cent for public broadcasting.
All right, sir.
Do you understand?
I do.
Now that they've screwed this up this way, and finally getting the rest to go right up through the roof.
But it's my decision.
All right.
The $45 million is now withdrawn.
You see?
right or cut it back or i'll tell you to just cut it in half well i think we just have to say that the situation is far different than when we submitted that because of the because of that that we're having to have a general cut back on that and just cut that uh what did we have last year we were at 20 i believe sir that's what it is yeah that's what it is now yeah all right all right resubmit it that way and i don't want the sons of bitches to pass 45 and then have it come up very good no i will i uh called you last night after the
I think it went really beautifully.
I was particularly pleased with the answer, the reason for needing more strategic weapons now, and the unwillingness to go to a coalition government over there.
I thought that came through better.
It's one of the best I've ever seen.
gave you a call, and I know you were all laughing at others, but it was... Oh, I appreciate that very much.
It was also an extremely good spirit there, that first time when they really seemed not only as respectful as they should, but reasonably friendly, which I thought came through very well.
We have another problem, which Clark will be talking to you about.
I asked him to talk to you about it.
He says everybody in the White House is, with exception of him, of all people, believes that if they put me to the sword on their Social Security, which now appears likely at 20%,
with the two, he says Schultz now says we probably ought to roll over and take it.
I'm beginning to wonder about it.
The problem is, you've just got to think about is this, what Clark raises, which concerns me, is if they roll us on this, they have another one hanging over us in October, and they could do the same device then, figuring that I would sign.
Now, the problem is that if we veto this,
As you know, the problem is if we get it sustained, then they then will have to come back with a better number.
You know what I mean?
On the other hand, the question that they really have, according to Clark, is whether, he says it's a very close question, although he thinks there's a chance it would not be sustained.
Queries.
under these circumstances.
And you've got to base the assumption it's going to be overruled.
Would you veto or not?
I watch your political, not your... Well, it's awfully hard to veto a Social Security measure, as you pointed out, Mr. President.
There may be one thing that makes it somewhat easier, and that is we understand within the last hour that there's another $3 billion amendment that may be hung on it, which would relieve all states...
of something like 20% of their Medicare costs.
Oh, when will that be?
Well, that would come within the fiscal year 73.
No, no, no, but when are they going to hang?
Oh, the debate's underway now, as I just got it.
In the Senate?
In the House?
Yes, sir.
Oh, in the committee, you mean?
No, I think it's still on the floor of the Senate.
But that's in the Senate, that's what I mean.
Yeah, no, it's on the floor of the Senate.
Well, if the Senate screws it up that much, we've just got to veto it.
Yeah, then it would be impossible.
Take the heat of the old force.
I think we have about a period of 06, 08, 09 days when we could run without...
major difficulties, although it's pretty... Oh, I'd love to have these sons of bitches...
But you've got an awful...
If you've got just a tremendous type of statement and message, you can go to the public on this, because... Also, I at least have laid the foundation for what I said last night.
We'll see.
But if it's just the 20%, it's awful hard to do, although I'd like to see it done, but it's really pretty hard to do, but we'll see.
We'll find out.
And I'll take care of this other... Fine, but if they add another $3 billion... Oh, yeah.
I have an unequivocal recommendation then, because I really think you can go to the public on a completely justified basis then.
The Social Security issue.
Why don't they try to load it up with another one?
Can you get a hold of Clark and see if the Senate can't screw it up worse?
Yes, I can certainly try for getting into that category.
And we'll take care of this other one, too, this public broadcast.
I can't understand why Griffin doesn't put his busing thing on it.
Well, he ought to.
He started out at one point with it, but... Brady's going to make the old folks mad.
I suppose.
Very answered.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On June 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger talked on the telephone from 3:24 pm to 3:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 026-055 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 26-55

Date: June 30, 1972
Time: 3:24-3:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Caspar W. Weinberger.

[See Conversation No. 744-24A]

     Public Broadcasting Bill
          -The President's veto
          -$45 million request
                -Peter M. Flanigan
                -The President’s view
          -Last year's request

     The President's previous press conference
          -Weinberger’s view
          -Strategic weapons
          -Possible coalition government in South Vietnam
          -Spirit of press

     Social Security bill
          -Clark MacGregor
          -George P. Shultz
          -Possible veto
          -$3 billion amendment
                -State Medicare costs
                -Senate floor
                -Possible veto

                 -Weinberger's recommendation
           -Instructions for MacGregor
           -Robert P. Griffin
                 -Busing

Also recorded on June 30, 1972

  • 347-005 2:10 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:10 pm and 2:55 pm.
  • 744-021 2:55 PM — President Richard M. Nixon, Clark MacGregor, Stephen B. Bull, Ernesto V. Lagdameo, and Mrs. Ernesto V. Lagdameo met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:55 pm to 3:18 pm.
  • 744-022 3:18 PM — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:18 pm to 3:24 pm.
  • 744-023 3:24 PM — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 3:24 pm.
  • 744-024 3:24 PM — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Richard G. Kleindienst, and Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:24 pm to 4:22 pm.
  • 745-001 3:24 PM — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and Richard A. Moore met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:24 pm to 4:29 pm.
  • 026-056 3:28 PM · 47 min — The recording device engaged on an unknown date, sometime between 3:28 pm on June 30, 1972 and 8:01 am on July 1, 1972, but the conversation appears to be blank.
  • 745-002 4:30 PM — President Richard M. Nixon, Clark MacGregor, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, David C. Hoopes, Ronald L. Ziegler, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:30 pm to 6:15 pm.

All 43 conversations from June 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 026-055, June 30, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/026-055 (accessed September 30, 2026).