Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 039-133
Date: Thursday, June 7, 1973 at 1:43 PM
Participants: White House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Warren, Gerald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-133

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] They played the chief.
[0:03] They played it very well.
[0:06] He was very strong and very forthright.
[0:09] He had a very positive attitude out there.
[0:12] I know he would.
[0:12] He told the reporters he was unable to discuss his plans or philosophy prior to testifying at confirmation hearings.
[0:21] He said he would be instrumental in furthering strong cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in a concerted attack against crime.
[0:30] Good.
[0:30] War on crime should be conducted with a recognition of human rights and dignity.
[0:35] And he was very strong on local cooperation.
[0:39] Right.
[0:40] And I think he made a very good impression on them.
[0:43] Richardson was there with him and told him about your exhaustive search for a strong independent leader.
[0:53] He said that Kelly had the precise qualities needed to run the FBI.
[0:57] And so I think he's going to play very well.
[0:59] Right.
[1:00] Right.
[1:01] Well, it ought to be a good story.
[1:03] I think so.
[1:04] I think so.
[1:06] You made a good impression.
[1:09] What else is running today?
[1:11] Well, I gave a little rundown on the cabinet meeting, and I had to take a question on the wholesale price index.
[1:21] Oh, boy.
[1:21] Boy, that's right.
[1:22] And I said that the president was
[1:24] was moving ahead on the economy with the meetings and asked the cabinet officers for their views.
[1:32] Sure, sure, sure.
[1:33] And would take action when it was required.
[1:35] Right.
[1:36] And I didn't let them speculate on anything this weekend.
[1:41] That's right.
[1:41] Okay.
[1:42] There'll be nothing this weekend.
[1:43] Right.
[1:44] Right.
[1:45] And I told the cabinet meeting the references you made again to the personal sacrifices of Al Haig.
[1:53] Right.
[1:53] Because that's important for them to understand.
[1:55] Yep.
[1:56] Because he's quite a guy.
[1:58] He sure is.
[1:59] He's quite a guy.
[2:00] Yeah.
[2:02] And so that's playing.
[2:05] I think Kelly will probably be the top story again.
[2:08] Could be.
[2:09] Uh-huh.
[2:10] Well, we have many of these, but at least we get a little play other than Watergate.
[2:15] That's true.
[2:17] That's true, and we do need it.
[2:18] Yeah, that's right.
[2:21] Well, these people here, the press people and the media people are so obsessed with Watergate, they think that's the only story in town.
[2:28] That's right.
[2:28] And the country's getting a little bit tired of it, I think.
[2:31] That's right.
[2:34] Because, you know what I mean, they get tired of it and make it whatever story it is, but after a while they want to hear something else.
[2:39] Mm-hmm.
[2:40] rather than the depressing business about these clowns going on and saying, he told me that, and I told you this.
[2:46] Hell, everybody knows it was a mess, and that was that.
[2:49] That's right.
[2:51] That's right.
[2:51] Okay.
[2:51] Okay, sir.