Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 045-065
Date: Monday, April 30, 1973 at 11:24 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]; Colson, Charles W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-065

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I'll go to Florida now.
[0:02] Hello?
[0:03] Mr. President, Mr. Colson.
[0:05] Hello, Chuck.
[0:07] Congratulations, Mr. President.
[0:08] Will you survive?
[0:09] Oh, yes, sir, I'll survive.
[0:11] Don't worry about that.
[0:12] I just say God bless you, because I think you laid it right on the line tonight.
[0:18] I think the people who were worried about Watergate heard what they wanted to hear.
[0:25] The vast majority of people who
[0:28] I'm still convinced.
[0:29] I'm not worried about Watergate.
[0:32] I think you're right.
[0:33] Well, I don't think it affects their lives.
[0:35] But they saw you tonight.
[0:39] Terribly sincere.
[0:41] Speaking straight from the heart.
[0:43] Asking for their help.
[0:45] And that's the... Saying God bless America.
[0:48] Yes, sir.
[0:49] Oh, God, that ending.
[0:51] Well, I've talked to 10 or 12 people tonight.
[0:55] What did they say?
[0:56] unanimous verdict.
[0:59] They say that the man was of tremendous sympathy.
[1:03] The man was speaking with great feeling and great conviction, and, my God, what he's been through, and shouldn't put the president through this.
[1:11] And one fellow who was a police union leader said, God, he brought our boys home from Vietnam.
[1:21] We'll remember him always for that.
[1:23] And enormous
[1:26] An enormous feeling of support.
[1:28] I just think that the country is with you.
[1:32] I've never seen the media in a more irresponsible, historical fashion.
[1:38] What are they doing?
[1:39] Raising elephants?
[1:40] Well, not with this, no.
[1:41] Oh, no, I mean up until tonight.
[1:43] No, they can't raise elephants.
[1:45] It's a little hard for them to knock this, isn't it?
[1:48] Yes, sir.
[1:49] You can put it to them right where it hurts.
[1:50] They can't knock it.
[1:51] They started to on CBS tonight, and then Dan Rather said...
[1:57] I just received a message that the president went to the press room and said, you fellas keep patting at me when I'm wrong.
[2:04] Give me hell.
[2:05] Yeah, give me hell when I'm wrong.
[2:07] And it just turned him around.
[2:08] He said if that's what the president is saying, then he's saved the Republican Party.
[2:12] I mean, that even got to those hard-boiled bastards.
[2:16] All right.
[2:18] But it was a hell of a job.
[2:20] Chuck, keep your faith, boy.
[2:22] Oh.
[2:22] Let's fight him out.
[2:23] I only care about one thing, and that's you.
[2:26] Yeah, and incidentally, on this, you know, all this business about, you know, the plumber's operation, good God, that's totally justified, isn't it?
[2:41] Yes, sir.
[2:42] Or is it?
[2:42] Well, I don't think there's any doubt about it.
[2:44] I don't intend to talk about it.
[2:47] I don't think they can make me, because that's at least what I know about it.
[2:51] It's a national security operation.
[2:54] Verlichman talked to me about that some time ago, and that was something that I wouldn't discuss.
[3:02] I wouldn't have any reason to try.
[3:05] But you say, look, we're protecting the security of this country.
[3:08] That's right.
[3:09] Right.
[3:10] Okay, Chuck.
[3:12] Well, God bless you, Mr. President.
[3:14] God bless you, and keep your faith, boy.
[3:16] Mine's with you, sir.
[3:17] Mine.
[3:18] And the country's with you, Mr. President.