Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 040-087
Date: Wednesday, June 13, 1973 at 9:54 PM
Participants: Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/040-087

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yep.
[0:02] General Haig.
[0:04] There you are.
[0:05] Hi, Al.
[0:05] Mr. President?
[0:06] Yeah.
[0:07] I think you ought to know that the little gals out here that have been doing this job taking calls have said they've never had a better reaction than all the time they've been here.
[0:17] Really?
[0:17] And I think you ought to know I've been over hundreds of these things now.
[0:21] I know.
[0:21] And the main thing is you are in charge.
[0:25] The president's back in control.
[0:27] This is great.
[0:30] He came across as a leader, the old Nixon.
[0:34] And I tell you, that's the main thing.
[0:36] Now, we've got all kinds of good stuff from the economists and Sittlinger and... Oh, really?
[0:41] And Harris said it was absolutely superb.
[0:44] Who did Harris say that to?
[0:46] He called in here.
[0:48] To you or...
[0:50] No, the government was taking the... Yeah, and what did Harris say?
[0:53] Harris was pleased, huh?
[0:54] He said, right on, hit the pressure points.
[0:57] The fact that labor has been reasonable and the prices were frozen, not... What did Senninger say?
[1:03] Senninger said he was most impressed by your maintaining the flexibility to move in either direction when required.
[1:12] He said he told...
[1:12] I talked to him on the phone.
[1:14] Oh, good.
[1:14] And I...
[1:15] But he thought it was the right move.
[1:16] He thought it was the right move.
[1:18] Mayor's...
[1:19] from a number of cities have come in there.
[1:22] I talked to Connolly.
[1:25] He was very pleased.
[1:26] Well, I think the best part of it is that it's not just the substance of the action, but more the fact who's in charge of this darn place.
[1:36] Exactly right.
[1:37] And the people said, so many have said, thank God no more Watergate.
[1:42] And just any number of calls of that... That's what we've got to do, you know.
[1:46] Regardless of what this asshole Dean says, we've just got to pay no attention to it.
[1:50] Just give it the back of our hand.
[1:52] Don't you agree?
[1:53] I do, sir.
[1:54] And these girls just keep running here.
[1:56] They say they've never had it like this.
[1:58] And we're getting a lot of people who don't like the substance.
[2:01] You know, but have picked up the phone and are calling.
[2:04] They don't like the substance, huh?
[2:06] Well, a lot of people, yeah.
[2:07] You know, there are a lot of nitpickers on didn't go far enough or didn't like control.
[2:12] But what do they call then for?
[2:14] Nothing.
[2:15] Just called a bitch about that, huh?
[2:17] Yeah, but the fact that they pick up their phone, these are all freebie calls, and we were getting tremendous reactions.
[2:24] Overall, it's...
[2:25] But if they don't like the substance, that would be then a lot of negative reaction, but oh well.
[2:29] No, no, no, no, the girl said no.
[2:32] It's interest.
[2:33] It's non-Watergate.
[2:35] It's presidential.
[2:36] center of the stage.
[2:39] And we're in charge.
[2:40] And we've never had more congressional reaction, according to Bill.
[2:44] They're just calling right and left here.
[2:46] Are they really?
[2:47] Yes, sir.
[2:48] Good.
[2:48] And they had a gang over there at Devine's tonight, a hell of a gang, partied for him, and they said it was roaring applause.
[2:56] Where?
[2:56] At what?
[2:57] At Devine's.
[2:57] And they all fought?
[2:59] Yep.
[3:00] Good.
[3:00] Very strong.
[3:01] Very strong.
[3:02] Good.
[3:03] Well, that's good.
[3:04] Well, we, you know, we struck two blows today.
[3:07] The thing over in Paris was not insignificant.
[3:11] No, indeed.
[3:12] And it made the evening shows.
[3:15] We went with this tonight, and so it's just as well to give them a double jolt right at the moment, because the time that all of our enemies are going to trot out their little soft-headed dean, good God.
[3:30] This thing is getting sickening, though.
[3:33] I'm getting so tired of hearing Bazaar and the rest.
[3:35] I mean, they have to bring it into me.
[3:37] What's Dean going to say?
[3:39] What the hell is the difference to make?
[3:41] That's the amazing part of all these comments they all said.
[3:44] We're sick of Watergate.
[3:45] The president's back in charge.
[3:47] This is the old Nixon.
[3:50] The president has real reason to be proud.
[3:52] He did an excellent job.
[3:53] Firm, confident, seemed like the sensible man we've always had.
[3:57] And that was a reference to Watergate.
[4:01] It's a damn good, sir.
[4:03] Well, okay.
[4:04] Have a good sleep.
[4:05] Fine.
[4:05] Thanks, Al, for calling.
[4:06] You don't want any more calls, do you?
[4:08] Or would you like some more?
[4:09] Well, if you get something, call me.
[4:10] I'll be here for another hour.
[4:12] Okay, sir.
[4:12] Fine.
[4:13] You may call me in another half hour, okay?
[4:15] Okay, sir.
[4:16] Fine.