Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 033-090
Date: Saturday, November 18, 1972 at 12:12 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/033-090

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I have Mr. Ehrlichman now for you, Mr. President.
[0:03] Yeah.
[0:03] Thank you.
[0:05] Bye-bye, sir.
[0:05] Thank you.
[0:06] Hello.
[0:06] John.
[0:07] Yes, sir.
[0:07] I've been thinking some more about the Peterson thing.
[0:12] I haven't, you haven't heard from Schultz today, have you?
[0:14] No, I'm going to see him at 1 o'clock.
[0:16] Yeah.
[0:19] On reflection, you know, considering the ability that fell on the rest.
[0:25] Maybe we're, maybe I'm being a little too hard, and that's respect.
[0:29] I mean, you know, hard.
[0:30] I mean, ability and imagination is hard to come by.
[0:34] And the guy does have a hell of a contribution to make.
[0:38] Do you think we should let Schultz have as a backup position the—all right, commerce if he'll take it under the circumstances that we've suggested?
[0:46] It's entirely up to you.
[0:48] It's a question of what you'd be comfortable with, I think.
[0:51] Well, if I don't have to see them.
[0:52] I understand.
[0:53] That's the point, you see.
[0:54] That had occurred to me with the reorganization.
[0:57] That's true.
[0:58] That's true.
[0:59] Well, let me do this.
[1:01] George and I are going to get together at 1, and let me visit with him about it.
[1:08] He's undoubtedly talked to him some more, and we'll have a better feel of what the market is, so to speak.
[1:14] Because even if he is going to be out there, he isn't in a place in commerce that he could do any harm particularly.
[1:24] He can contribute in this whole east-west thing and the rest and very generally in ways that many others simply wouldn't have any understanding.
[1:32] Okay.
[1:33] Well, let me indicate to George that that's a possibility.
[1:37] Possibility that he can have that as a bargaining point.
[1:41] Right-o.
[1:41] Fine.
[1:42] Good.