Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 148-008
Date: Tuesday, October 10, 1972 at 8:46 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Mills, Wilbur D.
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/148-008

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] Hello.
[0:03] I have Congressman Mills for you.
[0:05] Go ahead.
[0:06] Hello.
[0:06] How are you, Mr. President?
[0:08] Wilbur, how are you?
[0:08] I thought you should know that, unfortunately, I don't get down to get the galleries.
[0:14] People notice me, but several people who heard your speech today, they were, of course, mainly Republicans.
[0:25] said that it was one of the great speeches ever made in the floor of the House, and I just thought you'd like to know that before you went to bed.
[0:31] Well, John did a good job, too, John Burns.
[0:33] Yeah, I know, I know.
[0:35] But I'll tell you, it was a very statesmanlike thing, and it was just a great thing to do for the country.
[0:42] We don't know what our friends in the Senate will do.
[0:44] I just wish to hell you were there.
[0:47] I'm going to hold to this thing in conference.
[0:49] We're not going to give up.
[0:50] Can you do that?
[0:51] Yes, sir.
[0:53] Tell me, have you got a minute?
[0:55] How does it tell me the legislative situation?
[0:57] Because I'm going to get the senators in Thursday morning to talk to some of them.
[1:01] If you can get Senator Jordan to stand for a motion.
[1:05] Len Jordan.
[1:05] All right, I'll get him in.
[1:06] Dick Cook says that we can carry it in the Finance Committee.
[1:10] All right, I'll get him down.
[1:12] How about Russell?
[1:14] Oh, Russell's been against it always.
[1:15] Russell's suspended.
[1:16] All right, then we'll get Jordan.
[1:18] And I'll make this sort of a Republican group then, huh?
[1:20] Oh, I would.
[1:21] Make it just the Republicans.
[1:22] I think that's better because otherwise it gets partisan.
[1:25] I would.
[1:26] I'd do that.
[1:26] There's no need to call Russell in.
[1:27] He just will make it water for you.
[1:29] Right.
[1:30] You ought to be able to get Carmen Talmadge and some others on our side.
[1:36] Yeah, but that's got to be done very quietly.
[1:38] Very quietly.
[1:39] And you can get Byrd, I think.
[1:41] Yeah, I'm sure we can get Byrd.
[1:43] Yeah, so that we can win it in the financial committee if we work at it.
[1:47] All right, we'll do it.
[1:48] If you've got any thoughts, pass it on.
[1:51] I'm going to meet with him 9 o'clock Thursday morning.
[1:54] That'll be fine.
[1:55] I'm going to have the conference in the morning at 9 o'clock.
[1:58] Now, here's my idea.
[2:01] If we can get the Senate to agree to take over everything that's added to this bill, and then we agree to take out those things the Senate doesn't like,
[2:11] You'll get about 50% to 55% of a house-pass bill, but it'll be minus welfare.
[2:17] It will take care of the disabled under Medicare.
[2:21] It'll raise the widow's benefit up to 100% of her husband's benefit.
[2:25] A few things like that need not a very expensive bill compared to what they've got.
[2:30] I see.
[2:31] It'll be cheaper than a house bill, even.
[2:34] I see.
[2:35] All right, fine.
[2:37] And will you tell, if you'll keep...
[2:41] Timmons or whoever you want to go with.
[2:44] Tell them what the strategy is so that we can sort of know what to do, huh?
[2:48] Well, you'll have him and Jack Veneman, one of the best men you've got working for you.
[2:52] Veneman, good.
[2:52] I'll have him at the meeting.
[2:54] And probably at some point, Richardson himself will be there.
[2:59] Right.
[3:00] But we'll work together on it.
[3:02] Good.
[3:02] It won't embarrass us at all.
[3:04] Sure, I know.
[3:04] I know what this is.
[3:06] It's very delicate and sensitive.
[3:08] It is.
[3:09] Yeah, right.
[3:11] Well, anyway, give my best to that child that answers the phone when I usually call you.
[3:16] Okay?
[3:17] My wife.
[3:18] Yeah, no, not only your wife, but you remember the...
[3:21] I wasn't gambling too hard about you.
[3:22] I don't think you did, too.
[3:24] Okay.
[3:25] Thank you.
[3:26] All right.
[3:27] Thanks a lot.
[3:28] Bye.