Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 043-096
Date: Thursday, February 15, 1973 at 4:42 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Timmons, William E.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/043-096

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] you know i've uh just because of the need to keep some communication should be doing mansfield again sometime and uh on the other hand i don't want to do him and all that you say just as a possibility of my having mansfield scott griffin and bird tomorrow morning for breakfast
[0:26] You know, have Mansfield with the others.
[0:28] Mm-hmm.
[0:29] Is it a good idea or not?
[0:29] I think it'd be a great idea.
[0:31] I don't know what the hell to...
[0:32] I can give them...
[0:33] I want to start softening them up a little.
[0:36] Mansfield has been pretty good on this to the north, but I can explain it in ways that Henry could never get it across, you know?
[0:43] Mm-hmm.
[0:43] And you could ask for their views.
[0:45] And they'd like to get their views.
[0:46] And what else could we ask them about?
[0:48] Probably not ready for any trade discussion.
[0:51] Oh, no, I can tell them what I have in mind.
[0:53] I think that would be helpful, too.
[0:55] Now, listen, we're going to be briefing eventually.
[0:56] We want you to know what's coming down the pike.
[0:59] You know, we've got that problem on the Soviet head tax on the most favored nation for Russia, and that would make a good point.
[1:06] I'll tell them that's a hell of a dumb thing.
[1:08] Fine.
[1:09] All right, if you wouldn't want, we'd make it 8 o'clock.
[1:14] And let's see, how many are there?
[1:16] Four of them, one of me makes five.
[1:18] And I suppose that on that should come you or Carl August or both of you.
[1:28] Tom's going to be out of town tomorrow.
[1:31] You'll come then.
[1:32] All right, sir.
[1:33] Bye.
[1:34] You might call them and see if they can come.
[1:36] Okay.
[1:36] The senator's back today, and I assume they're— If one misses, it's all right.
[1:40] Call the senator first, Senator Mansfield, and say, I wanted to have a chance before—
[1:47] to give them an update on developments in Southeast Asia and so forth and so on.
[1:52] OK.
[1:52] It'd be the leaders and the whips, then.
[1:54] Leaders and the whips.
[1:55] Just the Senate side.
[1:56] Right.
[1:57] And tell Mike that that's what I'd like to do.
[1:59] And on the clock in the morning, if he's free.
[2:04] Mike can't come for some reason.
[2:06] Do you want to go ahead with the other three?
[2:07] No.
[2:08] No.
[2:09] Mike's the most important one.
[2:11] Well, I've got to do it for him, you know, since he has that special feeling.
[2:14] Okay.
[2:16] I'll do it.
[2:17] Fine.
[2:17] Thank you.
[2:19] Bye.