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Conversation 034-137

TapeTape 34StartTuesday, December 19, 1972 at 8:16 PMEndTuesday, December 19, 1972 at 8:17 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rush, [David] KennethRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kenneth Rush discuss the administrative removal of Gordon Wade Rule, a career civil servant suspected of long-term insubordination. Because Rule holds civil service protections that prevent immediate termination, the President authorizes Rush to strip him of all official responsibilities and initiate formal disciplinary charges. The conversation underscores the administration's determination to discipline Rule despite his established influence among congressional allies.

Gordon Wade RuleCivil ServicePersonnel AdministrationDepartment of DefenseDisciplinary Action
AudioNARA Description

On December 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and [David] Kenneth Rush talked on the telephone from 8:16 pm to 8:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 034-137 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 34-137

Date: December 19, 1972
Time: 8:16 pm - 8:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with [David] Kenneth Rush.

       Gordon Wade Rule
            -Civil service status
                  -Firing
                  -Possible removal of responsibilities
                  -Charges
            -Actions
                  -Duration
            -Congressional friends
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Mr. President, I have Secretary Rush calling you.
Oh, fine.
Thank you.
All right.
There's the President.
Thank you.
Hello, Mr. President.
Hi, Ken.
Yeah.
This bastard has been doing this off and on for years, I find.
Yeah.
He's a civil servant.
Oh.
We cannot fire him.
Yep.
But what we can do is remove him from all of his responsibilities and begin to file charges against him tomorrow.
I've ordered them to prepare charges starting tonight.
All right, good.
And go after him tomorrow.
That's the thing to do.
We're not going to allow this sort of thing to happen.
The civil service charges may take a year to get through.
But meanwhile, we can relieve him of all responsible...
But he's been doing it for years, huh?
He's been doing it for years.
He has a lot of friends on the Hill, it turns out.
And he's been getting by with this thing for a long, long time.
Uh-huh.
But we've got to move on him, don't you agree?
I do agree, yes.
Okay.
I think this is very bad.
All right.
Take him on.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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