Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 158-028
Date: Friday, December 29, 1972 at 6:49 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kennedy, Richard T. (Col.)
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/158-028

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Well, good evening, sir.
[0:08] To cover Alex Johnson, yes, sir.
[0:12] Fine.
[0:12] And, uh, they're, uh, they're, they, they've got, uh, we've got a, a tremendous plan for you.
[0:14] I hope you told Alex that there's one thing I want to be sure you're going to get down with.
[0:17] I know you, you were hurting, but...
[0:18] Yes, sir.
[0:26] I made that clear as an alternative.
[0:38] You understand the purpose of it?
[0:39] Right.
[0:39] We're, uh, the base.
[0:40] Did we talk to the crew, you said?
[0:40] Oh, yes, sir.
[0:41] And, uh, Bill, Bill, Mr., um, what we did was precisely the right thing.
[0:43] The M.D.U.
[0:43] just brought them around.
[0:44] Yes, sir.
[0:45] Oh, well, most of it, most of it.
[1:03] You know, I think it's going to come around.
[1:05] I really do.
[1:08] What other explanation are they going to offer?
[1:09] They're going to be proud of the thing they're going to offer, right?
[1:11] It's just basically the thing we were discussing before on the day that they're hitting them up long and wide.
[1:33] Uh, why did we do it?
[1:33] Why did we bomb?
[1:33] And, uh, let's, uh, uh, we're just doing it for you.
[1:34] We need to talk to you.
[1:35] We need to talk to you.
[1:35] We need to talk to you.
[1:36] We need to talk to you.
[1:36] We need to talk to you.
[1:37] We need to talk to you.
[1:37] We need to talk to you.
[1:38] We need to talk to you.
[1:40] Absolutely, yes sir.
[2:01] And as I mentioned, that's exactly the way, uh, the way, uh, Mr.
[2:03] Rush said.
[2:03] He said he's done exactly the right thing, and they understand it perfectly now.
[2:05] If everybody's here today, why would they, why, what other conceivable reason would there be for him to have come at this point?
[2:07] What if they waited another week?
[2:09] They really want to get through it.
[2:29] That's what it is.
[2:30] That's what it is, you know.
[2:31] Okay, fine.
[2:39] We're going to take off at 10 o'clock in the morning, and you are on music as well, so we're in motion.
[2:47] Yes, sir, absolutely.
[2:48] Please be very comfortable, and you've got it.
[2:49] I'll be speaking to the vice president early in the morning.
[2:50] Right.
[2:50] And everything is fine.
[2:51] Fine.
[2:51] All right, fine.
[2:51] Thank you.
[2:52] Yes, sir.
[2:52] Thank you.