Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 038-039
Date: Sunday, April 15, 1973 at 1:01 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-039

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. Ziegler on the line, sir.
[0:02] Thank you.
[0:03] Yes, sir.
[0:04] Why do you think it was worth going?
[0:06] That was a great evening, Mr. President.
[0:10] You really felt that?
[0:11] Yes, sir.
[0:12] Did you stay at any of the after parties?
[0:13] Oh, yes, sir.
[0:14] I went to them all.
[0:15] I have a cold, so if I sound a little deep voice, that's because I have a cold.
[0:21] The reaction was very good, and those traditional enemies and moderates and friends as a whole were very complimentary of each other.
[0:37] It was a great evening.
[0:38] That's good.
[0:38] What did they like about it?
[0:40] Well, the feelings.
[0:41] The serious part or the humorous part or both?
[0:44] Oh, both.
[0:52] So I think everyone was moved by it.
[0:57] It was a good evening.
[0:58] Very, very good feeling.
[1:01] That's good.
[1:02] I think it was good to do, and I thought Nat handled himself very well.
[1:06] I think he did.
[1:07] I think he did.
[1:08] It wasn't as bitter as the cigars.
[1:10] He did it with grace.
[1:12] One thing I noticed was the fact that when Woodland
[1:17] awards, there wasn't a big applause and so forth.
[1:23] Did you notice I congratulated them?
[1:25] That's right.
[1:25] But there was when, you know, the POWs and all of them.
[1:33] And they responded rather well when we finished, too.
[1:35] Yes, sir.
[1:38] Well, what the hell is probably worth doing?
[1:40] You know, you've got to do these things.
[1:42] These guys are human beings and they're touched by any sense of emotion.
[1:48] The poor bastards, they want peace.
[1:50] That's right.
[1:51] As much as I do.
[1:52] Sure, Knapp was very touched.
[1:54] Porter, of course, was in tears.
[1:56] What did he say?
[1:56] Well, he was just, you know, overwhelmed by it.
[2:01] Good, good.
[2:02] Lissagor even felt it went well.
[2:05] He did.
[2:06] Oh, sure.
[2:07] Good.
[2:08] The reaction and then the feeling.
[2:09] I heard that it
[2:11] Somebody sat by Stuart Hensley and said that he was very, very high on the damn thing.
[2:18] I don't know why.
[2:18] He saw the substance of it, you see.
[2:20] Oh, yes, sir.
[2:22] You know, in that 10-minute speech, there was a lot of substance.
[2:26] Absolutely.
[2:26] Well, no, not a hell of a lot, but, you know, some.
[2:29] The feeling was there, I think.
[2:32] Very definitely.
[2:34] It was a good evening, and you can tell it afterwards.
[2:39] You're all worried about Watergate, but what the hell?
[2:44] Seriously, these guys know that goddamnit, Watergate will pass, and I know goddamnit, it had nothing to do with it.
[2:50] There was very little discussion tonight about Watergate, Mr. President.
[2:54] Yeah, well, there will be later, if you know, because when they indict Mitchell, Mitchell will break loose.
[3:03] Perhaps so, but there was very little discussion.
[3:09] Well, good, good.
[3:11] I'm glad we met.
[3:12] Yes, sir, and I appreciate the comments tonight, Mr. President.
[3:16] Oh, well, what the hell.
[3:17] I stick in the tunnel a little, you know.
[3:19] I understand that.
[3:20] Bastards.
[3:21] Yes, sir.
[3:23] And they deserve it.
[3:24] Well, when I say, you know, what the hell, I want to take that on background.
[3:29] That's right.
[3:30] That was very good.
[3:32] Yes, sir.
[3:32] Okay, Ron, get a rest.
[3:34] Okay, thank you.