Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 043-070
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 1973 at 4:55 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ford, John
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/043-070

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.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. John Ford's on the line, sir.
[0:03] Hello?
[0:04] Hello.
[0:05] Mr. Ford, how are you?
[0:06] Who is this?
[0:07] The president's on the line, sir.
[0:09] Oh, my God.
[0:10] I wanted to tell you that I would like to present the Medal of Freedom to you.
[0:22] I wanted to know if you would like to come to Washington or when I'll be in California in March and we could do it there.
[0:31] And I just thought you being a director would know the best place to have it.
[0:37] Well, either one.
[0:38] I'm suffering now.
[0:39] I'm recovering from a very severe surgical operation.
[0:42] That's why I didn't have the pleasure of going down to your party at San Clemente.
[0:49] You're the happiest man in the world.
[0:51] I'll be in California in about the middle of March.
[1:03] Oh, that would be great.
[1:05] And that would mean that you wouldn't have to come back here.
[1:07] Why?
[1:08] By that time, I should be fully recovered.
[1:10] Right, right.
[1:12] Well, we'll be in touch with you, our office here, and we'll work out the time, and we'll work out the kind of a party we want to have.
[1:22] I'm delighted, sir.
[1:25] You're my favorite director, as I wrote you.
[1:27] Thank you, sir.
[1:28] In fact, we don't look at the damn pictures.
[1:30] You're the best president we ever had.
[1:32] And I agree with everything you do.
[1:35] Incidentally, speaking... No amnesty.
[1:38] Don't worry.
[1:39] How did you like those POWs coming off that plane?
[1:42] Oh, God, I just, I mean, I cried.
[1:44] Isn't that great?
[1:45] Isn't that great?
[1:46] I had several friends among them.
[1:49] Right.
[1:49] Some of them came off, and I...
[1:52] and hope that they will.
[1:54] Right.
[1:55] Well, they will.
[1:55] They will.
[1:56] Well, I know they will.
[1:57] Well, anyway, we do appreciate everything you've done for him, but also your work on Vietnam for us, and I think this would be an appropriate time to present the medal.
[2:07] So we'll do it.
[2:09] I'll be there, sir.
[2:10] I'll have it made up, and we'll present it.
[2:12] Okay.
[2:14] Good to talk to you, and you get well.
[2:16] I love the Patricia and the family.
[2:18] I sure will.
[2:19] Thank you.
[2:19] All right.
[2:20] Thank you.
[2:21] Pleasure.