Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 139-006
Date: Thursday, August 10, 1972 at 1:12 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/139-006

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Yeah.
[0:00] Yes, sir.
[0:01] I think I've thought of a way we can do that Detroit thing and make a not-too-long speech, maybe 1,500 words.
[0:09] It's about basically, and it can be subtle, but they'll all get the point, about the neighborhood school.
[0:17] Now, I don't know whether this is elementary or high school.
[0:20] High school.
[0:20] High school.
[0:21] Well, we can point out, I mean, let's do it in quite a personal way, that I made my friends in school.
[0:27] I went to public schools.
[0:30] and I went to East Whittier Grammar School, a little of that, and that I was able to walk to school.
[0:38] Well, a lot of it, I was able to walk to Grammar School.
[0:42] Of course, we had buses and the rest.
[0:43] We may not get into that, but my point is that many of us attended the same church.
[0:52] Many of us, you know, the school was the center of the community.
[1:00] And then you take on how I realize that there's a very, very different opinion.
[1:13] People favor the breaking down of neighborhoods, the forced busing, and so forth.
[1:22] But I believe that.
[1:23] And then they just put in, and I just be quite frank, that it breaks the neighborhood schools.
[1:27] And then you, of course, get an idea of the quality education.
[1:31] Quality education is served by going to the neighborhood schools.
[1:37] We've got to improve the schools in every neighborhood so that they're the best.
[1:45] I think we could do it in a rather subtle way with talking about quality education generally, how much the school means to an individual.
[1:56] We should all be proud of our schools, of our neighborhood schools.
[1:59] Neighbors should work together.
[2:00] Neighbors and the PTA, you know, that sort of thing.
[2:05] I think, actually, that Price could probably do that.
[2:07] You know, he's very, he's really quite, you know, he could do it in a subtle way that you should be because of his true dedication.
[2:14] It shouldn't be just a raucous attack on busing, you know.
[2:20] But as I just say, I want to talk about it in a very
[2:22] in a very considerate way.
[2:24] There's a difference of opinion here.
[2:25] We don't want to exacerbate it, but I want to give you the sum of expressed their views.
[2:30] I know they're very sincere, but there's a very great difference of opinion in this election year about it.
[2:36] I have a totally different view, and here is the reason I have it.
[2:42] I'm for education, and I'm for the neighborhood schools.
[2:45] I believe in buses and a little of that stuff.
[2:49] Good.
[2:50] I think that's better than trying to do something separate from it, if we can work it that way.
[2:56] Just say it, and I'll, as soon as price gets it, I'll put in a line that will leave no doubt.
[3:02] I'm just totally against fussing.
[3:03] Right.
[3:04] Okay, fine.
[3:05] Good.
[3:06] And I got the other one, and I worked on it some.
[3:09] Okay.
[3:17] Your meeting's at 5 o'clock.
[3:19] Right.
[3:21] Sure.
[3:22] It's fine.
[3:22] Okay.
[3:23] Thank you.
[3:24] Okay.