Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 142-007
Date: Tuesday, September 12, 1972 at 9:04 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/142-007

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I was thinking a little bit about the thing and one thing that occurred to me is that perhaps one outburst like that may not be too bad in a sense that in one sense that a lot of people really think McGovern really is lying
[0:25] oh yeah that's right you see what i mean they don't trust them and they don't believe them and uh i mean it's just one of those things i wouldn't repeat it but i'm inclined to think that uh i don't know we our guys have got you know they've got to show a little indignation now and then you know and uh at that level well i think people like emotion i mean they like someone to be uh and of course someone who looks as sincere as earl looks and he he really is a he's a
[0:53] a good, solid Midwest kind of guy.
[0:58] I saw it.
[0:59] I had to rerun it.
[1:00] He came through very, very sincere.
[1:02] I mean, he was just a fellow who said, by God, when I'm accused of this kind of thing, and in turn the President of the United States is accused of this kind of thing, well, then this fellow's a bald-faced liar, and he's got a fight on his hands.
[1:16] Yeah.
[1:17] And he's got a fight on his hands with me.
[1:19] No, I think he...
[1:20] He did it well.
[1:21] I mean, he pulled it off.
[1:24] It's not the thing that everybody can do.
[1:26] But I think, of course, it is what people think.
[1:33] It's the point that's made so often about...
[1:38] I've heard so much in the last two or three days that people just don't trust this fellow.
[1:43] They don't believe him.
[1:55] I wouldn't, on the butts thing, I wouldn't really... Earl did that all right.
[2:04] He didn't... Sure, I know he did.
[2:07] And as I say, that particular issue, I think we...
[2:15] I don't know, on balance, I think we came out ahead.
[2:17] On balance, I think we probably made a point or two on it.
[2:21] But on the final analysis, what people...
[2:23] I am just totally convinced that people are going to vote on their trust and confidence in a man.
[2:30] And that's what this election is going to be all about.
[2:35] And there's no... No, we can't win on that, we're sure.
[2:38] I'm dead.
[2:40] Well, we've won on that.
[2:44] That's a matter of holding on.
[2:46] All of these issues just don't amount to all of that much...
[2:52] I think what really counts is that the people, you have to give them credit.
[2:58] They know.
[3:00] They put their trust in you, and they will not in this guy.
[3:04] He's waffled around so much that I think he's lost it.
[3:11] Okay, fine.
[3:12] Thank you.
[3:13] Thanks, Mr. President.