Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 045-062
Date: Monday, April 30, 1973 at 11:15 PM
Participants: White House operator; Cox, Tricia Nixon; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bush, George H. W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-062

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello?
[0:02] Mr. George Bush calling the president.
[0:04] Oh, yes, and then there was also Don Hughes on the phone.
[0:08] There was a Don Hughes on the phone from Thailand via satellite, and George Bush is on the phone.
[0:24] Hello?
[0:25] Hello, President?
[0:26] George, how are you?
[0:27] I'm fine.
[0:28] And I heard that speech with great pride.
[0:32] I tried to call in there, but the switchboard's been lit up, I guess.
[0:36] I told them to let anybody through, but they wouldn't— Well, I couldn't even get the operator there, but I— I've been on the phone, George, all night.
[0:43] I'll bet you have.
[0:44] But we watched it.
[0:45] We just had attended a Republican leadership conference here, and I—
[0:50] I really was proud of you and, my golly, I know it was tough.
[0:54] I just wanted to tell you that.
[0:56] To me it came through clearly and forcefully and it conveyed the deep depth of feeling that I know you must have had agonizing over John and Bob and stuff.
[1:08] I just wanted to tell you that before I went to sleep.
[1:11] Good for you, George.
[1:15] You had nothing to do with this goddamn thing.
[1:17] No.
[1:17] We're gonna go on.
[1:18] Is the May 8th dinner going on?
[1:20] Well, it's going, yeah, and it's... No, this may help us.
[1:24] This may help us.
[1:25] And if it does, I'll come by and they all gotta cheer.
[1:28] You understand?
[1:28] They're no problem on that.
[1:30] They will.
[1:30] The people in the political thing have wanted something.
[1:36] But they really are with you.
[1:38] And I know, I feel it strongly tonight.
[1:40] And I've been in many states in the last 10 days.
[1:43] South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas.
[1:47] No, but it's, when you tell them this and get it in the focus is exactly...
[1:52] I appreciate what you've suggested.
[1:53] You do anything and...
[1:54] I may call on you, but I'm not sure about what you're doing, the most important thing you can do.
[1:59] But in any event, you and I are going to be very close.
[2:02] You understand that?
[2:03] Well, best of luck.
[2:04] And holler on anything.
[2:05] Tough ones, anything.
[2:07] I know that, George.
[2:08] It seems to be great.
[2:09] And I don't...
[2:09] I sit here... Barbara and I were sitting listening to these guys.
[2:13] Barbara, my best.
[2:14] What?
[2:14] The commentators?
[2:16] Giving it out?
[2:16] Well, Rowan and the arrogant bastards that don't really... You know, and they don't...
[2:22] The thing that burns me up is the feeling that you had and that came through.
[2:26] There's a little credit for that, but I think the people...
[2:29] The folks may understand it.
[2:31] The folks didn't understand the checker speech, but the people did.
[2:35] I mean, the commentators didn't.
[2:38] And the commentators didn't understand Cambodia, but the people did.
[2:41] And the commentators didn't understand May 8th, but the people did.
[2:44] The hell with the commentators.
[2:46] The hell with them.
[2:47] This is going to come through good.
[2:48] Okay, boy.
[2:49] A lot of people are rooting for you.
[2:51] All right, boy.
[2:52] Okay, sir.
[2:52] How good of you to call.
[2:53] Not at all.
[2:54] I'm just doing my best to barber.
[2:55] I will, sir.
[2:56] Goodbye.