Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 034-136
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 1972 at 8:07 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kleindienst, Richard G.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/034-136

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] The Attorney General, sir.
[0:03] Yeah.
[0:03] Hi, Miss.
[0:04] Hi, Dick.
[0:04] What did you find out?
[0:05] Well, I had a long chat with him, and I told him I'd see him again at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
[0:11] But I think that we could get them to get rid of the blackout for the playoff game.
[0:18] If, you know, in the event that Congress passed a law that would include, you know, every game, you know, the regular season games,
[0:26] You know, that we would, you know, see to it that that law didn't come about.
[0:29] Oh, we'll stop that.
[0:31] Yeah.
[0:32] Just like the World Series.
[0:33] That's right.
[0:34] We do it just like the World Series.
[0:35] The World Series is not blacked out.
[0:37] That's what he's got to understand.
[0:38] That's right.
[0:39] Play it just like the World Series.
[0:41] Yeah, every other game.
[0:42] You know, they're a regular season game.
[0:44] I think they deserve some protection.
[0:46] They should have absolute protection on all regular season games.
[0:50] Playoff games, playoff games, just like the World Series, should be open to the public.
[0:55] Now, what I'd like to do tomorrow— But let me say that I want us to get some publicity out of this.
[1:00] I just want to do this to accomplish it.
[1:01] You know that.
[1:03] I understand that.
[1:04] And that's what I'm going to tell him.
[1:06] You know, that without, you know, putting your neck on the line— Well, I don't want my neck on the line at all.
[1:13] And that, you know, this will all come about as a result of my conferences with him at your direction.
[1:18] Yeah.
[1:19] Way to— Right.
[1:20] But then you say something.
[1:22] publicly.
[1:24] I want you to make a public statement to the effect you've talked to him.
[1:28] As a result of your direction to me.
[1:30] Right.
[1:31] Now they can't do anything this year?
[1:34] No, I think we should do it right now.
[1:36] Get him to do it right now.
[1:37] Yeah, for these playoff games.
[1:40] If he'll make the move for these playoff games, we will block any legislation.
[1:45] to stop anything else.
[1:46] I will fight it personally and veto any legislation.
[1:49] You can tell him that I will veto it.
[1:51] Okay.
[1:51] And we'll sustain the veto.
[1:53] I'll do that.
[1:54] Fine.
[1:54] And I think I can even... And if you can get the playoff games, believe me, it'll be the greatest achievement we've ever done.
[1:59] Okay, sir.
[2:00] Go all out on it.
[2:01] Tell him that he's got the president's personal commitment.
[2:04] I'm for pro football all the way.
[2:06] Good.
[2:07] But I think it's not pro football's interest.
[2:09] Allow this to build up because before you know it, they'll have the damn
[2:12] Congress to go all the way.
[2:14] We don't want Congress to go all the way.
[2:15] That's right.
[2:16] What we want is that the teams should not have games, you know, on television when, you know, in the regular season.
[2:27] Do it just like baseball.
[2:29] For the championship games, they should be open to the public.
[2:33] No problem.
[2:34] I think I can work this out.
[2:34] I'll see if you can work that out and tell him that this would be the greatest move he could ever make.
[2:38] He'd be a hero to the nation.
[2:40] Okay, sir.
[2:40] All right, boy.
[2:41] I'll call you tomorrow.
[2:42] Bye, sir.