Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 036-127
Date: Tuesday, January 30, 1973 at 8:59 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/036-127

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Kissinger, sir.
[0:05] Hello?
[0:06] Hello.
[0:07] Mr. President.
[0:07] Hi, Henry.
[0:08] I didn't know whether you had been told yet that John Stennis has just been shot.
[0:15] Oh, my god.
[0:19] Shot?
[0:19] Yeah.
[0:19] By whom?
[0:20] I think it was a burglar.
[0:22] At his home?
[0:22] Yes, or a holdup outside his home, just outside his home.
[0:27] And he's in Walter Reed.
[0:29] He got hit in the stomach and in the leg.
[0:33] Shot twice?
[0:34] Twice, yeah.
[0:35] And he's being operated on right now.
[0:40] No, I haven't been told.
[0:43] I haven't been told.
[0:43] It must have just happened, huh?
[0:45] It happened within the last hour.
[0:48] I wonder if it's a burglar.
[0:50] Why the hell would they do that?
[0:51] Why'd they shoot him?
[0:53] Well, it's a holdup.
[0:54] It could have been.
[0:55] Do they know?
[0:57] Any witnesses?
[0:58] Do they know?
[0:59] I haven't.
[1:00] Black, white?
[1:01] Yes, they have a description.
[1:06] I hope not.
[1:10] Hold up, it's a black.
[1:12] If it's something else, it's a white.
[1:14] That's my view.
[1:15] That's right.
[1:15] That's the way it always works.
[1:17] Exactly.
[1:18] Some damn stupid black on, you know, out to get his pocketbook.
[1:22] But if it's a peacenik, it'll be a damn white, some college kid.
[1:27] God almighty.
[1:29] It always is the decent guys.
[1:32] Jesus, there are not many left.
[1:33] No, that makes Simington the acting chairman.
[1:37] Oh, Christ.
[1:41] Simington, chairman of armed services.
[1:43] Wouldn't that be something?
[1:49] Yeah.
[1:49] Well, anyway, when was it?
[1:51] How long ago, Henry?
[1:52] How many hours?
[1:53] Oh, about an hour ago.
[1:54] He's in surgery right now.
[2:00] And we can call on your behalf to indicate your concern.
[2:06] I'll call Mrs. Dennis myself, okay?
[2:09] Okay.