Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 035-021
Date: Wednesday, December 27, 1972 at 8:49 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/035-021

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. Ball?
[0:01] Hello, Steve?
[0:02] Yes, sir.
[0:03] What have you got to report?
[0:05] Well, what we're looking at initially, sir, is, well, the initial recommendation would be that in view of the fact that you have proclaimed tomorrow as the National Day of Mourning and that the attention of the nation will be focused pretty much at your direction on President Truman, that it be delayed until Friday.
[0:29] Okay, but what have you got worked out with regard to Friday?
[0:34] No.
[0:35] And if we go Friday, I'd have to go very, very early because I want to go down for a day and then come back.
[0:41] You see what I mean?
[0:42] I want to just spend the day there and then come back.
[0:44] All right.
[0:46] The second thing, and I've got positive and negative.
[0:49] The positives are that it appears that what we could do
[0:55] uh for you to do would be to visit some of the refugee centers now i don't have a firm confirmation on how established they are but of course the city is i don't mind that the more uh doesn't have to be that uh controlled or just going into places that are whether the devastation and the rest just to show we are have concern that's what i want to do you see just to go in and show concern get in and out right what are the negatives well the negatives are that the city is being evacuated
[1:25] a city of about a half million people.
[1:27] I know.
[1:28] And there are some problems with getting the people out of the city and into the countryside.
[1:33] I know that, but... Do you fear further earthquakes and collapses of buildings?
[1:38] What the hell with the earthquakes?
[1:40] That doesn't bother me a bit.
[1:41] Well, not so much for the safety, but for the fact that our presence might detract from the initial efforts to save the people.
[1:55] And that seems to be the... Well, well, but you're not getting that.
[1:58] Who are you getting that from?
[1:59] State?
[2:01] No, we haven't gone to state, sir.
[2:04] This just seems to be the consideration to Kennedy and... Well, you check it out, then give me a report in the morning and a recommendation.
[2:15] But I want to go down on Friday, then.
[2:17] if we can, unless there's strong objections against it, you see?
[2:22] All right, sir, and we're going to check and talk directly with Turner Shelton as soon as we can get through.
[2:27] Talk with Shelton, get him on the phone.
[2:29] They haven't been able to get through because of the communication lines.
[2:32] Well, find out whether he thinks it would be helpful.
[2:35] Just go down, show the flag, and visit some refugee camps, and then come back.
[2:40] See what I mean?
[2:41] Yes, sir, I understand.
[2:42] Okay, bye.
[2:44] Would you like to...
[2:45] If I don't need anything more tonight, you can just keep checking on it and then have something to plan for me in the morning, okay?
[2:51] All right, sir.
[2:52] Thank you.