Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 045-087
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 1973 at 1:23 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; Ford, Gerald R.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-087

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Rudy.
[0:04] Rudy, thank you.
[0:05] Sir, I have Congressman Ford for you.
[0:08] Fine, I'll take him first.
[0:10] You are.
[0:10] Hello.
[0:12] Just wanted to express my appreciation for your note.
[0:15] I know you had to keep the faith and tell the guys, God damn it, to get off their ass and start fighting back.
[0:21] Well, we're going to, Mr. President, and you did a hell of a job last night, and, uh...
[0:28] It wasn't any other way I could express it this morning, but we've got a hell of a lot of friends up here, both Republican and Democrat, and don't worry about anybody being Sunshine Soldiers or Summer Patriots.
[0:44] Never, Jerry Ford.
[0:45] Well— Okay, boy, just wanted you to know that I deeply appreciated the little note, and I saw it, and I was most moved by it.
[0:54] Well, any time you want me to do anything,
[0:57] under any circumstances, you give me a call.
[1:00] See, I had to do what I did.
[1:01] It was the most painful thing I've ever done to take two totally innocent men and sack them, but they had to be sacked.
[1:10] Well, it just made me sit there and damn near cry because I knew the problem it was.
[1:17] I think both of them have done a good job, despite one of these damn critics.
[1:22] But they had to be done, and they should have done themselves, but then I had to do it myself.
[1:26] Yeah, well, we'll stand by you.
[1:30] But if you could get a few of the Congressmen and Senators to speak up and say a word, for Christ's sakes.
[1:38] I mean, you got Percy out saying a special prosecutor, the asshole, he's running for president.
[1:44] Sure.
[1:44] Good God.
[1:46] Elliot Richardson is a special prosecutor.
[1:48] You know that.
[1:49] That's right.
[1:51] Can't you get a few, Jerry?
[1:52] We had about four fellows, Mr. President, who came to me on the floor of the House during the speeches and said that they were going to speak up.
[2:02] And I said, you go ahead and speak up or put it in the record any way you want it.
[2:07] Just get a press release out.
[2:08] And I assumed— That's right.
[2:10] Ham Fish was one, and that pleased me.
[2:13] Uh, forgotten who the other two were, but there'll be a record and, uh... All right, boy.
[2:21] Well, you stand firm, old boy.
[2:23] Don't worry.
[2:24] All right, thank you.
[2:25] Mr. President.