Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 045-044
Date: Monday, April 30, 1973 at 10:20 PM
Participants: Rogers, William P.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cox, Tricia Nixon
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-044

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:03] Who's on now?
[0:04] Okay.
[0:06] Hello.
[0:11] Here you are.
[0:11] Hello.
[0:12] Hi, Miss Ferguson.
[0:13] Hi, Bill.
[0:14] See, that was terrific.
[0:16] Really superb.
[0:18] Don't give me that shit, you know, you know.
[0:20] No, I really mean it.
[0:21] You know, I've been through it.
[0:23] It was kind of rough, you know.
[0:24] Afterwards, I...
[0:26] But, you know, I thanked the operators and the rest.
[0:35] All of a sudden I sort of broke down a bit.
[0:38] I don't do that, you know.
[0:39] I'm not that kind of a man.
[0:41] Oh, hell.
[0:42] I tried to get you right away, but your damn system there is tough to get through.
[0:46] I finally got through to Parker, but— We have been trying to get through to you all day.
[0:51] any candidate officers to get through from the minute after this speech.
[0:56] And I've only one I've heard from is Weinberger.
[0:59] So I wonder what the hell's happened to everybody else.
[1:02] I don't know what the goddamn system is.
[1:04] Anyway, I call.
[1:04] I try to get Barker.
[1:05] I try to get Bull.
[1:06] I finally got Barker.
[1:07] Anyway, I thought it was superb.
[1:10] I don't see how you could have done any better.
[1:12] I think the best delivery I've ever seen you give, I thought the delivery— What parts of it did you like, Bill?
[1:18] I liked all of it.
[1:19] I just thought it was great.
[1:22] You didn't mind the God Bless America.
[1:23] That was my intuition at the last.
[1:26] You should have felt that way.
[1:27] No, I thought it was great.
[1:31] I suppose some of the editorial writers may not like it, but the public is going to love it.
[1:36] That's what counts.
[1:39] And I thought the whole tone couldn't have been better.
[1:42] I didn't think it had any rough spots in it.
[1:47] I didn't think it had any sackcloth and ashes or anything of that kind.
[1:53] I thought it was superb.
[1:54] I couldn't improve on it.
[1:56] I just thought it was great.
[1:58] What did Del think?
[1:59] She thought the same thing.
[2:01] She's a smart woman.
[2:02] She's critical.
[2:03] You married a smarter wife than you are, you know, like I did.
[2:06] That's right.
[2:07] Now, how'd you think it went?
[2:08] I don't know anything about it, you know.
[2:11] I've gotten, you know, I've been through a hell of an experience, you know.
[2:15] I was just reading Adams' memoirs.
[2:20] And Adams, you know, for his credit, did come in and say, look, I'll resign.
[2:25] But Holloman Erdogan didn't.
[2:27] Until then, they had to resign.
[2:28] That was a goddamn son of a bitch, you know.
[2:32] You made a lot of improvements on the speech.
[2:35] I thought it was pretty good last night, but it was a hell of a lot better tonight.
[2:38] You must have done a lot of work on it today.
[2:40] Worked all day on it, yeah.
[2:43] Well, I just think you ought to be very happy with the speech.
[2:46] I don't know.
[2:49] They were printing out Thursday, but I haven't told Steve.
[2:51] They went to Wednesday.
[2:52] I think we ought to get it over quickly.
[2:54] I think it's probably better.
[2:55] Is that all right with you?
[2:56] Right, right.
[2:57] Because you're the year of the cabinet now, boy.
[3:01] No, no.
[3:01] Oh, I'm not kidding.
[3:02] No, I'm not kidding.
[3:03] You can't do bullshit.
[3:03] You know that.
[3:05] Incidentally, I think things look pretty good for Packard.
[3:07] If you still want him, I think you ought to give him a call.
[3:11] I talked to
[3:12] I think I'll wait until tomorrow, though.
[3:14] I don't want you to do it tonight.
[3:16] I talked to Stennis, I talked to Mansfield, I talked to Ava, to George Mahon.
[3:22] What'd they say?
[3:23] They thought he'd be great.
[3:25] They thought he'd be good.
[3:27] And they waved the— Oh, we'll figure out something to do about that.
[3:32] That's right.
[3:32] That's right.
[3:33] Got all that money.
[3:33] Good of you to call, Bill.
[3:34] You've been a— That was a great speech.
[3:36] Get some sleep.
[3:37] Great soldier.
[3:38] And here's Pritchett to say hello.
[3:39] His little child.
[3:40] Okay.
[3:41] He's been so great with it all.
[3:43] Right.
[3:43] His little blonde child who loves you like— Well, you know, it's mutual.
[3:48] It's mutual.
[3:50] Mr. Secretary?
[3:52] Oh, we're just here in the Lincoln sitting room, and you were so great to call, and I know how much your support has meant to Daddy in these times.
[3:59] Well, I thought he was great, didn't you?
[4:01] I really thought it was a great stage.
[4:03] It took great courage.
[4:05] It had great, tremendous impact, I think.
[4:07] I'm sure, I'm just sure it will.
[4:09] I think it was the best delivered speech he's ever made.
[4:11] Do you really?
[4:12] Yeah.
[4:12] Yeah, well, it was so sincere, and he put the whole thing in perspective, and looking to the future, and all those little references was just...
[4:20] Everything fit in.
[4:21] I really thought it was great.
[4:23] You don't.
[4:23] I called earlier.
[4:24] I think you're great, too.
[4:25] I couldn't get through to him that there's so many people calling.
[4:28] I know.
[4:30] Anyway, I called immediately, but I thought it was terrific.
[4:33] Well, he appreciates that.
[4:34] He really does.
[4:35] He really appreciates all the support you gave me.
[4:37] I was so pleased you came up to Camp David.
[4:39] Oh, right.
[4:41] He said you were coming.
[4:41] I know he was looking forward to that.
[4:43] Yeah.
[4:43] Well, see you soon.
[4:45] I hope so.
[4:46] Bye-bye.
[4:46] Give my best to everybody in your family.
[4:48] Thanks very much.
[4:49] Bye.
[4:50] Bye.
[4:50] Thank you.