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Conversation 016-086

TapeTape 16StartFriday, December 10, 1971 at 5:18 PMEndFriday, December 10, 1971 at 5:20 PMTape start time03:16:14Tape end time03:17:37ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rehnquist, William H.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon calls William H. Rehnquist to congratulate him following his Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court. The President compares Rehnquist’s confirmation vote tally to that of former Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes and jokingly references an endorsement by Joe Kraft that nearly jeopardized the nomination. Nixon concludes the call by advising Rehnquist to remain independent and steadfast in his judicial philosophy, urging him not to let political pressure or the Washington social climate influence his future rulings.

William H. RehnquistSupreme Court nominationSenate confirmationJudicial independenceCharles Evans Hughes
AudioNARA Description

On December 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William H. Rehnquist talked on the telephone from 5:18 pm to 5:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 016-086 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 16-86

Date: December 10, 1971
Time: 5:18 pm - 5:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William H. Rehnquist.

[See Conversation No. 636-9D]

     President's congratulations
           -Rehnquist’s confirmation

                -Vote
                      -Compared with Charles Evans Hughes
                -Nomination
                      -John B. Connally
                           -Joseph C. Kraft
                                 -Article
                -President’s advice
                      -Warren E. Burger
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Well, you must feel like Chief Justice Hughes.
He had 26 voting against him, too.
Is that the exact number?
52 to 26.
I just got it in front of me so you can go out and say, well, like Hughes, I had 26 against him, but you had 68 for.
Gee, you're a much better...
There's only one thing, though.
I've just damn near withdrew your nomination before because I was just talking to John Connolly, and he showed me an article by Joe Kraft endorsing you, and I said, I've made a mistake.
Listen, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your giving me this opportunity.
Well, this is a great thing to be such a young man, to go on the court.
You'll make a great record, and you know the very fact that...
The only thing, I'll give you one, only one last bit of advice, because you're going to be independent, actually, and that is, don't let the fact that you were under heat change any of your reviews.
I'll remember that.
Don't ever let, I told Warren Berger that.
I said, now, Warren, you know, because he didn't get much heat, but I said, just don't come down here, the way I put it to him.
And, uh,
let the Washington social set change it.
So just be as mean and rough as they said you were, okay?
Thanks, Mr. President.
All right.
Good luck.
Thanks a lot.
Bye.
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