On December 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Arthur Krock talked on the telephone from 3:32 pm to 3:35 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 034-083 of the White House Tapes.
Transcript (AI-Generated)This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.
Hello.
Mr. President, Mr. Kroc.
Yeah.
There you are, sir.
Hello.
Yes, sir.
Arthur?
Yes, Mr. President.
Well, I guess I wanted you to know that I and Dr. Rose, she was saying you'd been a little under the weather.
I knew you had, and I should have called you earlier, but I wanted you to know we're thinking of you.
And when those election returns came in, I was thinking back over the years and how very
very few people I had in your distinguished profession who ever even, you know, would—I don't mean were trying to pander, but who would try to write it objectively.
But I remember your friendship, and I will always be grateful.
That's kind of you, sir.
I've just been hunged up lately.
I've lived too long, and I'm— Oh, to hell with that.
You've lived too long.
I mean— Take the price of it.
I'll tell you, New York Times would be much better, more interesting for me to have to read every morning if I just saw that article column, believe me.
Oh, God, I'll tell you, because you know how to do it.
I just want you to know that we do hope that we wish you the very best for this Christmas season.
I know it's tough, but believe me, as I
I was saying to somebody the other day, I was probably going to be the biggest 61 and 1 tenth or something like that.
Well, I said, as far as the landslide is concerned, let me tell you one thing.
I told this to a friend.
I said, it doesn't happen at one time.
It happens over a period of years.
You build it sometimes when you lose and sometimes when you win.
you when you run for the House, when you run for the Senate, when you go through a few problems as vice president, when you lose for president, when you win for president, and then when you win again.
But what also helps is that through the years that you've been in public life, have people like yourselves.
I remember those lunches we used to have up in my little office.
Yeah, I remember them very well.
I remember we'd kick around.
I always thought you were a constitutional lawyer until one day you told me you weren't.
No, I could too.
And I also remember that delicious tomato dish we had at your house.
I wish we could ever resume that, but I'm quite bunged up.
I know.
I'm trying my best.
Anyway, just wish you the very best, Arthur.
Thank you.