Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 037-075
Date: Friday, March 9, 1973 at 3:00 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Meskill, Thomas J.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/037-075
National Archives Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417195291 (NAID 417195291)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Yeah.
[0:01] Governor Meskel, sir.
[0:03] Hello.
[0:04] Hello, Mr. President.
[0:05] Hi, Tom.
[0:06] How are you?
[0:07] I'm fine, thank you.
[0:07] How are you, sir?
[0:08] Thought you'd be pleased to know I sent a wire, a cable on my own to Joe and Lye Wednesday about Downey telling about the sickness of his mother and personally asking.
[0:23] You're going to appreciate more what happened.
[0:26] He responded in record time.
[0:28] He's going to be released Monday.
[0:30] Oh, thank God.
[0:31] And I've called his brother and told him, and just a minute ago, and then I'm not calling Teddy Kennedy, if you don't mind.
[0:41] I don't mind at all.
[0:42] But I am calling you.
[0:43] And then also, you'd be interested in that gentle thing.
[0:46] They're going to release the two flyers they hold on Wednesday.
[0:49] Oh, good.
[0:50] So China's going through totally.
[0:51] I haven't heard anything.
[0:53] I'm up in Canada skiing with my two boys.
[0:55] Yeah.
[0:56] And I haven't heard anything today about Mrs. Tommy.
[1:00] He's very, very ill.
[1:02] Her brother said he didn't know whether he'd get there in time or not, but I said, well, we got him out anyway.
[1:06] Well, that's wonderful.
[1:07] God bless you.
[1:08] Okay, well, have a good time up there.
[1:10] Thank you so much for coming.
[1:12] And we appreciate all your strong support.
[1:15] I just hope it doesn't hurt you.
[1:17] I said, we appreciate your strong support, and I just hope it doesn't hurt you.
[1:21] If it does, it'll be worth it.
[1:23] Okay.
[1:23] And it won't, and do you mind if I let my office know about this?
[1:27] Yes.
[1:27] Now, understand, it'll be announced here.
[1:30] You better call your office immediately, because it's going to be announced here this afternoon.
[1:33] We don't want it to leak.
[1:35] Right.
[1:35] Released on Monday at around what time?
[1:38] Well, just, they haven't said just, you can just say Monday, probably Monday morning.
[1:45] Monday morning.
[1:46] Yeah, but in China, of course.
[1:47] In China.
[1:48] Hong Kong.
[1:49] Hong Kong.
[1:49] Be announced here.
[1:50] You call your office right away, or the press will have it before.
[1:54] Thank you very much.
[1:54] Okay.
[1:55] Thanks a million for calling.