Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 027-080
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 1972 at 1:10 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/027-080

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] You will work, as I said, you of course know that you have, I didn't know, after we talked last night, I didn't think it was necessary to mention it,
[0:19] You have complete freedom to offer anything in both the campaign or later.
[0:25] You understand?
[0:27] Because I think that's very important.
[0:28] I have done two things, and maybe you want me to turn one or both off.
[0:35] First, I had indicated to Haig
[0:40] that Hague should call and say that the President had directed that if Governor Wallace would like it, he would like to give him a briefing on national security and national defense and foreign policy matters and would be glad to at any time.
[0:53] Would you like for that to go forward now or not?
[0:55] Yes, sir.
[0:55] Let's go forward with it.
[0:56] All right.
[0:57] The second point, of course, I have already indicated.
[1:00] and I've talked to old Bob this morning after our conversation that he was to got a plan where McGregor or even thinking somebody like Johnny Rhodes of the platform committee or somebody like that indicate that Governor Wallace made a very significant contribution to the national debate on these issues and that we certainly have in mind and some of these at some of these points we find a very great agreement
[1:26] For example, our busing plank is right down his alley, and the news summary this morning so indicates.
[1:34] I think one thing we could do on that, on the busing plank,
[1:37] I might even, I was even thinking that if we could have a discreet way to have somebody just take it to him, show it to him, see what he thinks of it.
[1:44] Well, I think that'd be great.
[1:46] What do you think?
[1:47] I think that's fine.
[1:49] Who's, who, let's see.
[1:50] They ought to contact, they ought to contact this boy, General Snyder.
[1:53] Snyder, and say that the president particularly interested in the bussing plank.
[1:58] What would you say from our side should do it?
[2:00] I mean, should we have... Somebody not too conspicuous.
[2:05] Let's see.
[2:06] Harry Dent, maybe, that too conspicuous.
[2:10] I'll tell you.
[2:11] How about Ed Morgan?
[2:12] Ed Morgan would be great.
[2:14] They wouldn't know.
[2:15] He works around through the South anyway, and he's handled all this segregation thing and talks Wallace's language.
[2:22] Ed Morgan would be great.
[2:24] Good, good, good, great.
[2:26] Well, fine.
[2:28] That's really great.
[2:29] I think if something could be said by Johnny Roach or somebody between now and Saturday, it might help.
[2:34] You know, something can always happen.
[2:36] Yes, sir.
[2:37] Yes, sir.
[2:39] He told me what the Saturday announcement would be.
[2:41] We can do that.
[2:42] There's one other way.
[2:43] I can have it if we want to get it a little closer.
[2:46] I can have Klein say something.
[2:49] You know, he just gets out.
[2:52] That's all right.
[2:54] I wouldn't get it any closer than that.
[2:58] No, maybe that's the White House.
[3:00] I think that's too close.
[3:01] I agree.
[3:01] It should be the campaign.
[3:02] It really ought to be the campaign.
[3:04] I think you're right.
[3:05] I think McGregor could say it.
[3:07] McGregor is fine.
[3:08] Or Rhodes and the platform.
[3:10] That's right.
[3:10] All right.
[3:10] I'll get that one done.
[3:21] John, would you, on your part, wish one thing, have Jacobson and the others, as I said, as soon as you get you and those fellows, your staff people in place, you're up, I do want to sit down with them so they know that, as I've done that with around here, and we just do it on an informal basis.
[3:44] All right.
[3:55] I was just thinking, I'm preparing for just an in-office press conference tomorrow, and I was standing by there, you know, and I do the same as you.
[4:04] I work like hell before these.
[4:05] I go, you know, I work and I study all that and have to be prepared on 100 issues in order to answer 20 questions.
[4:11] And I said, you know, you talk about pressure.
[4:15] You can't pace yourself when you're preparing for one of those things.
[4:17] You've got to be up for them or you're down the tube.
[4:20] That's right.
[4:20] Don't you agree?
[4:21] That's right.
[4:21] If there's one place that a guy cannot...
[4:24] You do pace yourself in anything, but there's one place where you can't be required to pace yourself.
[4:30] It's in this office.
[4:31] Because there are times when you've got to go balls out, even when you're dead.
[4:36] That's right.
[4:36] Balls out.
[4:37] That's right.