Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 44 › Conversation 044-075

Nixon phone call with Shultz on Price controls and Meat prices

Thursday, March 29, 1973 · 5:11 PM–5:13 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.Conversation044-075 on Tape 44StartThursday, March 29, 1973 at 5:11 PMEndThursday, March 29, 1973 at 5:13 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 044-075 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Treasury Secretary George Shultz discussed the specific language for the President's upcoming speech regarding meat price controls, finalizing a statement that the ceilings would remain in effect as long as necessary. Shultz also reported a significant labor agreement between the United Steel Workers and steel companies, which included a no-strike provision and a focus on arbitration. The two men coordinated plans for the President to call I.W. Abel and R. Heath Larry the following morning to acknowledge the breakthrough.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yes, Mr. President.
George, I just wanted to know, in terms of my own remarks here, I understand with our ceiling deal, we plan to keep it in effect indefinitely, but the purpose is to keep it in effect until meat prices begin to go down.
Isn't that really what we're saying?
Yes, sir.
Can I say that?
Why don't you look at the, do you have that piece of paper I gave you?
Yeah, yeah, I've got that.
Well, I say these prices must, the way you've got it, these prices must not go higher.
With the help of the housewife and the farmer, they can and should go down.
Right.
And I want to add this sentence.
The seedling will remain in effect as long as necessary to do the job.
Get meat prices down.
Too strong?
I'll put it out if you think it's too tough.
Why don't you stop at as long as it's necessary to do the job.
Okay.
Mr. President, I got a very good piece of news about ten minutes ago from I.W.
Abel.
Oh, yeah.
And the steel union and companies have just signed an agreement for sort of a continuous industrial peace.
Great.
With a very good wage agreement.
from our standpoint, a 3% annual improvement factor and a cost of living protection and an agreement that there will be no strike and no lockout.
If any disputes come up, they'll subject them to arbitration.
I think this is one of the proofs of the pudding that the strategy you've got us on of confrontation with labor, let's work with them, let's try to provide a good environment, is really working out.
Incidentally,
Tomorrow morning, you might be kind of busy during the day, but I might make... Abel called.
I probably ought to give people Abel and the head of the steel company.
I'll get you the two names.
Get me the two names.
When I come over at 9 o'clock, I'll have them.
You come over, and then maybe while you're there, I'll make the call.
Oh, that's right.
We're meeting in the morning.
And if we've got time, your meeting comes first, but if we get through before, I'll make the calls.
Okay, sir.
Bye.
Thanks, George.
We'll be watching you, and we'll be briefing beforehand.
Oh, sure.
You'll knock them dead.
You'll knock them out.

NARA Description

On March 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:11 pm and 5:13 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 044-075 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 044-075

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Date: March 29, 1973
Time: 5:11 pm-5:13 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George P. Shultz.

       President's March 29 speech
             -Price controls
                   -Meat
             -Strength of language

       Shultz’s conversation with I[lorwith] W[ilbur] Abel
             -United Steel Workers of America [USWA]
             -Labor agreement
                   -Wage increase
                   -No strike or lockout
                   -Arbitration
             -President’s labor strategy

       President’s schedule
             -Shultz
             -President’s call to Abel and R. Heath Larry

       President’s March 29 speech
             -Shultz’s briefing

Also recorded on March 29, 1973

  • 044-073 4:53 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:53 pm.
  • 044-074 4:53 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:53 pm and 5:11 pm.
  • 426-008 4:55 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:55 pm to 5:10 pm.
  • 426-009 5:10 PM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:10 pm to 5:11 pm.
  • 044-076 5:11 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:11 pm and 5:13 pm.
  • 426-010 5:11 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:11 pm to 5:13 pm.
  • 426-011 5:13 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:13 pm and 5:32 pm.
  • 426-012 5:13 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:13 pm and 5:32 pm.

All 77 conversations from March 29, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 044-075, March 29, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/044-075 (accessed October 1, 2026).