Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 037-085
Date: Sunday, March 11, 1973 at 2:17 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/037-085

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] No, sir.
[0:02] Bob, on the ambassador's thing, I know that apparently we struck out on the businessman we had in mind for Germany.
[0:08] We haven't promised that to anybody else, have we?
[0:10] No.
[0:12] I think I'd like to send Tom Bale there.
[0:15] I'll just think of him for a moment, you know.
[0:16] That would be a good idea.
[0:17] I wonder if he'd do it.
[0:18] Well, I talked to him about it today.
[0:20] I said, would you be an ambassador?
[0:21] He said, well, maybe you ask me.
[0:22] See, we told him before we didn't want him to leave, you know, because obviously he was...
[0:28] very busy, you know, publishing.
[0:31] But he, look, he's the kind of a guy who's, he's sophisticated and the rest.
[0:37] Now, Rogers and the rest, but screw them, I'll go right up the wall.
[0:41] Henry won't think he's smart enough.
[0:43] But Dale is all with us.
[0:46] He's attractive.
[0:47] His wife is attractive.
[0:49] And he is smart, you know.
[0:51] God damn it.
[0:52] Who writes better editorials than he does for us?
[0:54] Nobody.
[0:56] Nobody does.
[0:56] Well,
[0:57] He's damn good.
[0:59] Well, I want to do it.
[1:01] Okay.
[1:02] And follow up the first thing in the morning.
[1:04] You call him.
[1:05] All right.
[1:06] In the morning.
[1:07] Or if you can reach him even this afternoon and ask him if you would take Ambassador to Bonn.
[1:11] We don't want to put his name unless he'll take it.
[1:14] And it's a terribly important assignment because I really feel strongly.
[1:17] He came to me and all that struck me.
[1:18] I said, why not?
[1:20] Now, there's a businessman, publisher.
[1:22] highly respected, totally loyal guy on our side.
[1:29] Yeah.
[1:30] Doesn't Jane is one of our contributors.
[1:31] We had a contributor.
[1:33] I don't want a contributor.
[1:34] Lined up, but I, and who's apparently very good, but I think.
[1:38] I think you need a very sophisticated person for Germany.
[1:42] Germany's terribly difficult, and I wouldn't want a businessman to break his ass over there.
[1:46] Yeah.
[1:50] That sounds awfully good.
[1:52] I don't think a businessman really ought to go there.
[1:55] I really don't think so.
[1:56] And Bale, while he didn't contribute, still, in his wake, contributed a hell of a lot.
[2:01] Sure.
[2:02] And we've got to measure that, too.
[2:03] Sure.
[2:05] Well, take a look at it.
[2:06] Good.