Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 043-191
Date: Friday, February 23, 1973 at 3:29 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bush, George H. W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/043-191

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] I had Mr. George Bush.
[0:03] Yeah.
[0:05] You were, sir.
[0:06] George.
[0:06] Mr. President.
[0:07] I had nothing of great importance.
[0:09] I know you're important.
[0:10] But it's a thought that occurred to me when I spoke to the South Carolina legislature.
[0:14] I noticed a couple of very attractive women, both of them Republicans in the legislature, and one good-looking and great, and they had won and so forth.
[0:27] I spoke to Harry Dent about it when he came in to see me the other day, and I said, you know,
[0:31] Some of these districts, if they can do it in the South, I'm rather surprised they were there.
[0:37] It may be that against some of these, I don't want to go through the Lenora Romney thing, but I want you to be sure to emphasize to our people, God, let's look for some because, and I understand I don't look because I'm for women, but I think maybe a woman might win someplace or a man might not.
[0:55] Have you got that in mind?
[0:57] I will certainly keep it in mind, sir.
[0:59] Fine.
[0:59] And if you talk to Harry about it, he'll tell you how they found these women.
[1:03] I don't know how they did, but these were two in the state legislature, you see?
[1:06] Yeah, that's great.
[1:07] And they were good looking and bright.
[1:09] And they told me the Democrat, who's a speaker, said they're two of the best members of the House.
[1:15] Well, that's terrific, and I hope this Janet Johnson, when she gets on board next week, she's young herself and attractive, and we've got to get her folded well into the recruiting and the candidates.
[1:26] Incidentally, Sir Reese, Ken Reese, is going to start, I think, on March 3rd or 5th.
[1:32] And he'll be planning a while.
[1:34] I don't know if Bob Haldeman told you about my call regarding the Congressional Campaign Committee thing.
[1:40] Yeah, I heard about that.
[1:41] And it may be fine.
[1:43] Michael's fine.
[1:44] He's a friend.
[1:45] And if you could get the two of them, it'd be great.
[1:47] Well, I think the thing I want to be sure is that it wouldn't cause you any trouble if it went that route.
[1:53] We didn't talk to Brown.
[1:55] Yeah.
[1:55] Well, this would be good.
[1:56] And it'll work one way or the other.
[1:58] And I think that would be helpful.
[2:00] I'm not dishearing your advice, but I was locked into a couple of these Lincoln days, but it finished today, so we'll be blessed here.
[2:08] I'm sure they all love you.
[2:10] Okay.
[2:10] I don't know about that.
[2:11] It's going good.
[2:12] I'll send you a little note.
[2:13] You getting a good reception?
[2:14] Well, I think so.
[2:16] You are.
[2:17] I'll tell you, you're going to win this.
[2:18] I was up in Rochester last night.
[2:20] They had 2,000 people.
[2:22] New York?
[2:22] Yeah, and they had this...
[2:24] this whole group of all these New York State fellas, and the mayor came up and gave me a slight protest on the city stuff, but then I said, look, he's going to win this thing, and he said, I know it.
[2:34] He said, it's very, very clear to me.
[2:35] He says, all I'm saying is I'm a Republican mayor, and if there's any way you can help, I said, well, hell, maybe we can find something.
[2:41] But the thing that impressed me was here was an urban...
[2:43] you know, not the center city, New York City, but the big city.
[2:48] And very socially conscious, too.
[2:50] Yes, sir.
[2:51] And they think, you know, nobody tells me they think we're going to lose on this tack of taxes and keeping the cost of living.
[2:59] And it's, of course, down here where it's probably... Of course, the other thing, too, is, George, that we are spending one hell of a lot of money.
[3:05] We've...
[3:06] We're spending twice as much today on what we call human resources as we did four years ago.
[3:11] Now, that's just an awful lot of dough.
[3:14] We're hammering on that, and I'm beginning to feel good about it all.
[3:18] All right.
[3:19] Good luck.
[3:20] Good luck.
[3:20] Have a good visit.
[3:21] Thank you, sir.