Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 032-154
Date: Thursday, November 2, 1972 at 6:00 PM
Participants: Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); White House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/032-154

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. Ehrlich's been returning to President's call.
[0:07] Yes, sir.
[0:09] This health thing is, I know Cole's worked on it, but I think they're sneaking by me here some stuff that I don't believe in.
[0:17] I'm not for these health maintenance organizations.
[0:20] You remember I fought that goddamn thing out with Richardson before, remember?
[0:24] Right.
[0:24] Don't you remember?
[0:25] I sure do.
[0:26] We also want to encourage, he says, more health maintenance organizations and medical foundations where institutions help doctors organize or serve more conveniently.
[0:34] My view is to strike that out.
[0:35] Okay.
[0:36] We also want to encourage more institutions which can help, in other words, strike out what the hell they are,
[0:45] all right we also want to encourage programs we can say programs programs which will help help
[1:06] John, I remember you talked about it, and you weren't for the damn things either.
[1:09] That's right.
[1:10] I'm sorry to say I haven't looked that over.
[1:11] Well, don't bother.
[1:12] But you see, I know I remember we had that Coles in the office.
[1:16] He did it, and I haven't been able to reach him.
[1:18] The other thing I wanted to ask you about, they refer to ours the choice between the National Health Insurance Program I have described and my opponent's plan for a medical system, which is paid for by taxpayers and the government.
[1:31] Now, God damn it.
[1:33] We're for compulsory national health insurance.
[1:35] I'm going to repudiate it.
[1:38] Well, it isn't compulsory.
[1:40] What it is is an employer-employee contribution system.
[1:44] But if you strike the word national, you may be all right.
[1:50] What it is, of course, is private insurers.
[1:52] All right, fine.
[1:53] Strike the word national.
[1:54] I get your point.
[1:58] The health insurance plan.
[2:04] It's a comprehensive health insurance plan.
[2:06] I want an adjective.
[2:07] Comprehensive.
[2:10] Okay, fine.
[2:11] Okay, John.
[2:12] All right.
[2:12] That's all I need.
[2:12] Good enough.
[2:13] I don't think the program's worth a damn, though, I'll let you know.
[2:15] Well, let's take another look at it, then.
[2:17] Oh, no, no, no, no.
[2:18] I mean, you know, before we send anything back up.
[2:20] No, no, I'm going to deliver it in the morning because... No, no, I mean in the... Oh, when the time comes for legislation... Well, I just want you to know... Yeah, I want you to know that on this one, I just...
[2:34] I know the doctors aren't worth a damn.
[2:36] I mean, they're a selfish bunch of people.
[2:38] But I also know, John, that there are the worst socialists in the world are in this health care.
[2:43] No question about it.
[2:44] You agree?
[2:45] Oh, absolutely.
[2:46] They're horrible.
[2:46] Well, you know, I've got a bias a mile wide on this.
[2:48] Well, I know, but that's apart from that bias.
[2:52] My bias is, I mean, I'm exactly the same because I have no, I think most doctors are frauds.
[2:59] My point is, you know what I mean, that people are sick because they want to be, but apart from all that,
[3:04] That's even assuming that it is big business.
[3:08] And what we're doing here is getting the government and all these goddamn socialists in here, sneaking this under the tent.
[3:14] Well, we'll take a fresh look at the whole subject.
[3:16] Yeah.
[3:17] I just don't know whether that's one of the reasons why I'm not so keen on making the speech.
[3:22] Well, I don't know that you're committed to it.
[3:28] I'm not sure it's even been announced.
[3:29] Do you want me to check and see?
[3:31] There's another point where our phone is clean.
[3:36] Yeah.
[3:46] I guess we're stuck with the damn thing, John.
[3:48] We've already sent it to the Congress, haven't we?
[3:50] That's what it is.
[3:51] Oh, yeah.
[3:53] Of course, it expired by its terms.
[3:54] It's like, you know, welfare reform.
[3:56] We're going to change that.
[3:58] We don't have to be for the same thing we were for two years ago.
[4:02] Yeah.
[4:02] Yeah.
[4:25] Okay, I'll go in the damn thing.
[4:27] But just remember, I want a hard look taken of that by somebody that's not for it.
[4:31] Okay.
[4:32] Fair enough.
[4:33] That's me.