Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 040-041
Date: Tuesday, June 12, 1973 at 9:28 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/040-041

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:01] Mr. President?
[0:02] I just, uh, sitting here talking to Ray, and we've, uh, he worked on the draft.
[0:06] It's coming along very well, as a matter of fact.
[0:08] Good, sir.
[0:09] Uh, he threw out a name here that, uh, way in from left field, but, uh, it, uh, he thinks we might take a run at Scranton on the energy thing.
[0:23] Think about that a bit.
[0:26] Scranton is a very capable administrator.
[0:29] If you put him in something that involves ideology, not worth a darn.
[0:33] But, you know, he knows all the big shots.
[0:38] He's a good administrator, et cetera, et cetera.
[0:40] I don't know.
[0:43] That's right.
[0:44] He's not bad.
[0:46] He's run at it.
[0:47] He's looking for a job.
[0:48] I know that.
[0:49] You see, the point is that it would bring...
[0:52] be a great thing for the administration but he'd be willing because as governor he was a superb governor tough administrator and everything else then he ran for president and strong-willed wife practically ruined him and ever since he's been a disaster that's right and so forth but uh why don't you uh think about that a little i mean it's possible i know him well and he's worked with us a number of things he's he's a hell of a good man you might just have
[1:23] Heck, you know, sometimes rather than thinking in traditional man, an oil man or an electricity man or something like that, getting a man that is from the outside who comes in and he could take it to Bona under him, you see.
[1:37] He did a great job on that international communications business.
[1:41] Yeah.
[1:41] He can do it.
[1:41] Right.
[1:42] And this is an enormous challenge.
[1:44] It's one of the great challenges.
[1:47] But I think it's a good idea.
[1:48] Yeah.
[1:49] him a call in the morning.
[1:50] Good.
[1:51] All right.
[1:53] Fine, sir.
[1:53] All right.