Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 045-048
Date: Monday, April 30, 1973 at 10:34 PM
Participants: White House operator; Cox, Tricia Nixon; Kleindienst, Richard G.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-048

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. President.
[0:01] Hello?
[0:02] Secretary Richardson, Foreign Minister Hull told me to put it right here.
[0:05] Yes, thank you.
[0:19] Hello.
[0:21] You are good.
[0:23] Hello.
[0:24] Hello, Mr. President.
[0:24] Hi, Elliot.
[0:25] Thank you for calling back.
[0:27] No, I tried to reach you about half an hour ago, but the damn lines are so busy.
[0:33] Oh, really?
[0:34] No, that's right.
[0:36] Oh, that's right.
[0:39] Well, I thought that was really great.
[0:42] Well, you're very kind to say that.
[0:44] In the real sense, your finest hour.
[0:49] I tried to call you actually.
[0:52] I just learned about this because the lines have been jammed.
[0:59] I just learned about five minutes ago from Steve Bull that you had called, and I said, For Christ's sakes, why don't you put it through?
[1:08] He said, Well, we had other calls on.
[1:12] I was on the phone, good God, my God, Billy Graham and eighteen other people, but I just wanted you to know I hadn't cut you off because of that.
[1:21] Because you can always get through.
[1:24] I want you to know, you can always get through.
[1:27] Believe me.
[1:29] Well, I thank you, Mr. President.
[1:33] I was very moved and touched by what you said about me, and I can assure you that—well, you know what I mean.
[1:40] I won't let you down.
[1:42] I know.
[1:43] Do your job, boy.
[1:47] It may take you all the way.
[1:49] You know, it so happened that I was having a party here tonight for the military assistants who'd been with Bill Clements and me and who were just needing new jobs.
[2:03] And so all the chiefs were here.
[2:05] And we all watched and listened to you together.
[2:08] What do you think?
[2:11] I don't think I've ever been with a group of people who were more moved.
[2:16] by an occasion like this.
[2:18] Really?
[2:18] Really.
[2:19] And it was a great thing, really, for all of us.
[2:22] Well, you know, I meant it.
[2:24] As you know, Al, it came from the heart because you were up there with me and you know how rugged this was.
[2:31] But it had to be done.
[2:33] We could feel it.
[2:35] Well, you're the man.
[2:38] You're my man.
[2:39] And by God, we back you up all to the hilt.
[2:42] Do you understand that?
[2:44] I do.
[2:44] I do.
[2:45] All right, Elliot.
[2:46] And I won't let you down, Mr. President.
[2:48] Oh, I know that.
[2:49] I know that.
[2:50] That's why I named you.
[2:53] Well, I can only say that I— Go ahead.
[3:02] I think I can do it right.
[3:04] I really do.
[3:05] Of course you can.
[3:06] Of course you can.
[3:07] Elliot, the one thing they're going to be hitting you on is about the special prosecutor.
[3:12] The point is, I'm not sure you should have one.
[3:16] I'm not sure about what you should say.
[3:17] You assume the responsibility for the prosecution and maybe bring that nice fellow, Hastings or whatever his name is,
[3:27] Whatever you want.
[3:30] Good God, if you want to, you know, do the extreme Charles Evans Hughes, do it.
[3:39] Yeah, I don't mind.
[3:41] Okay.
[3:42] Well, I'm thinking about it, and I met with Henry Peterson this afternoon.
[3:46] Right.
[3:46] And I talked with him about it, and I'll think about it some more.
[3:49] Do what you want, and I'll back you to the hill.
[3:52] I don't give a damn what you do.
[3:54] I am for you.
[3:55] You understand?
[3:56] Get to the bottom of this, son of a bitch.
[3:58] I do.
[3:59] All right, Elliot.
[4:00] Thank you, sir.
[4:01] Thank you for calling, and give my best to your lover of life.
[4:03] I will, sir.
[4:07] ... ...