Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 044-092
Date: Thursday, March 29, 1973 at 10:19 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.)
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/044-092

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:00] Good evening, Mr. President.
[0:03] Hello, how are you?
[0:04] I just called you to tell you what a wonderful speech you made.
[0:08] If that doesn't get every American up on his toes, nothing will.
[0:11] Well, you're very good to call, Admiral.
[0:13] You and I have been through it all, haven't we?
[0:15] Yes, sir.
[0:16] And I just thought I'd remind him a little of what the hell we went through in Cambodia on May 8th, and then these magnificent men that came back.
[0:25] The fellow I referred to, incidentally, will get out.
[0:28] It happened to be, it was Reisner.
[0:31] Reisner, yeah.
[0:32] He was the one.
[0:32] He's a very religious man, you know.
[0:35] Very.
[0:35] So is Denton.
[0:36] Well, Denton and Reisner, each said the same thing, but I told Ziggler he could say Reisner said it, because Denton has already said it publicly.
[0:43] Right, yes, sir.
[0:44] Well, I talked to both of them quite a bit after they really enjoyed talking to you, but they are real solid citizens.
[0:50] They're all solid.
[0:51] God damn it.
[0:52] These prisoners of war have done more for the spirit of America
[0:55] than a thousand speeches by a president, believe me.
[0:59] Believe me.
[1:00] Yes, sir.
[1:00] They've done great, but your speech tonight is going to do a terrific amount of good, too, sir.
[1:04] You think it will?
[1:05] Yes, sir.
[1:06] And you know, those prisoners, I've said many times in the press conference, we didn't select them in advance to get captured.
[1:14] They simply are representative of the cross-section of Americans we had down there.
[1:18] Right.
[1:19] and any of them would have behaved the same way, I feel.
[1:22] Oh, they're magnificent men, magnificent men, and they helped the whole spirit of the country.
[1:26] How'd you like what I said about national defense, Admiral?
[1:28] That was fine, sir.
[1:30] We ended up struggling on... Look, fight like hell for the budget.
[1:34] We cannot cut the budget.
[1:36] Yes, sir.
[1:36] We spent five days already on it, and we are working hard on the assignment and committee now.
[1:41] Put it to them in the basis that if they cut this budget, they will destroy...
[1:45] There's chances for MBFR and for the deal with the Soviet.
[1:50] The Soviet, Brezhnev, I know I'm going to meet the son of a bitch this summer, and he'll be there.
[1:55] And if we've already cut, he won't give me a damn thing.
[1:57] You're right, sir.
[1:58] That's exactly what I'm saying.
[1:59] I think I got that point across.
[2:01] The rule of diplomacy is that
[2:03] one unbreakable rule that you can't get anything unless you've got something to give.
[2:07] Exactly.
[2:08] Yes, sir.
[2:08] Well, we're doing our best, Mr. President.
[2:10] We've got the, we've finished with the Senate now.
[2:13] We've got the House Appropriation Committee and then the Armed Services Committee.
[2:18] Just make the point.
[2:19] Yes, sir.
[2:20] Those who cut the budget will destroy the chances for reduction of armaments or limitation of armaments and for peace.
[2:28] Right, sir.
[2:29] Okay.
[2:29] Well, we'll lay it on them as hard as we can.
[2:31] All right.
[2:32] Thank you, Admiral.
[2:33] Again, thank you, sir.
[2:34] Did you get my message I sent it over for you to convey to all the people that have handled the homecoming operation?
[2:40] Did you get the word on that?
[2:41] Yes, sir, and I'll take care of it.
[2:42] And be sure that it goes in the files of everybody that worked on it.
[2:45] They did a splendid job and they wanted to get something.
[2:47] I certainly will, sir.
[2:48] One other thing that I mentioned to you briefly, David had a remarkable man as his commanding officer, you know, the commander of the Albany.
[2:58] Yes, sir.
[2:58] He's a captain.
[3:01] Do you know who he is?
[3:02] Captain...
[3:04] I can't think of his name.
[3:05] I can't think of his name right now, but I know that... You check his name.
[3:08] He's a sundowner.
[3:10] He's tough.
[3:11] He's a son of a bitch.
[3:12] But he's a great commander.
[3:14] And when he comes up for Admiral, would you watch for him and see that he gets special attention?
[3:20] I certainly will, because as a young officer, you know, I've always said that...
[3:24] It's really not those that you work for, it's those that work for you that really count.
[3:31] This guy is not all that popular with the little guys in the crew, but he's a guy that
[3:38] insisted he didn't go with all this crap about letting everybody go off.
[3:43] He made him shape up and the rest.
[3:45] And be sure you check that captain.
[3:48] I can't think of his name, but he's a hell of a guy.
[3:50] I was very impressed by him when I visited the Albany.
[3:52] The captain of the Albany.
[3:54] Yes, sir.
[3:54] Remember that name.
[3:56] You as a Navy man will be proud of him and be sure he gets the proper consideration.
[4:01] I don't want to interfere, of course, with the promotion thing, but you can do something about that, I'm sure.
[4:06] Yes, sir.
[4:07] All right.
[4:08] Well, good night, son, and thank you again.