Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 31 › Conversation 031-118

Nixon phone call with Scott on Presidential veto and Congressional relations

Wednesday, October 18, 1972 · 12:04 PM–12:08 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, HughConversation031-118 on Tape 31StartWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 12:04 PMEndWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 12:08 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 031-118 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon calls Senator Hugh Scott to express appreciation for Scott’s public support of his veto of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments. The two men discuss the political optics of the veto, with Nixon reassuring Scott that his stance will be viewed favorably in historical context despite the lack of legislative support. Additionally, they briefly review Scott’s upcoming personal travel to Indonesia with John D. Rockefeller, III, and exchange pleasantries regarding Scott’s post-election schedule.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Senator Scott, sir.
Well, I wanted to tell you that I'm most grateful for your statement on the water bill.
I know that you didn't have many supporters, but it'll look good historically, I can assure you.
I wish you well on your trip.
You're not going to be in Philadelphia Friday, I presume.
No, sir, I'm sorry.
It's all right, because basically it's just as well to let that be a show for governors and mayors, don't you think?
Yes, I think so.
I would have been, of course, but I'll be in South Dakota that day.
Good.
I'll be engaged in the work of the Lord, after all.
Right.
Well, you and Marion have a good time.
And after the convention, I mean, sorry, the election take off two or three months.
Fair enough.
That's an order.
Thank you.
We're going to Indonesia with John D. Rockefeller.
Marvelous.
Asian conference.
Marvelous.
You've been there before?
Yes, who was?
Oh, of course you were.
You were there.
Yeah, that'll be fun.
That vote last night for me was a little difficult, but it was a privilege to do it for you and for the purpose.
You understand.
I had to be to it because I've got to live with that $24 billion now, and it's too bad, but we'll find a way.
We'll find a way.
You'll look better later.
That's right.
Sometimes you've got to think of how you're going to look later.
And thank you for calling.
All right.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Good luck.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On October 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 12:04 pm to 12:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 031-118 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 31-118

Date: October 18, 1972
Time: 12:04 pm - 12:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Hugh Scott.

[See Conversation No. 803-12]

        Greetings

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 14s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************

        Congressional action
           -Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972
                -Scott's statements on legislation

        Scott's schedule
            -Philadelphia ceremony on revenue sharing
            -Marion Scott
            -Forthcoming trip to Indonesia
                  -John D. Rockefeller, III
                  -Scott's previous trip
                      -Bourke Hickenlooper

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 2s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

*****************************************************************

        Congressional action
           -Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972
                -Vote October 17, 1972
                    -The President's veto of measure

Also recorded on October 18, 1972

  • 031-116 11:45 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:45 am.
  • 803-008 11:45 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:45 am.
  • 803-009 11:45 AM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 11:59 am.
  • 031-117 11:59 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-010 11:59 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-011 12:02 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:02 pm to 12:04 pm.
  • 803-012 12:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:04 pm to 12:09 pm.
  • 803-013 12:09 PM · 1 hr 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:09 pm and 1:27 pm.

All 86 conversations from October 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 031-118, October 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/031-118 (accessed October 10, 2026).