Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 165-014
Date: Saturday, May 12, 1973 at 11:58 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ash, Roy L.
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/165-014

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Well, I forgot to tell you, Roy, that when you talked to John Connolly, you might say the president also mentioned that in his conversation in Florida with John John had expressed approval of what we'd done in the energy thing, but felt we should have done more.
[0:15] And that I realize that he has a problem in being out in front here because of his business interests, but that the president is
[0:25] Very, very interested in anything he's got here and ask him how he feels he could, you know, step in and give us some help on that.
[0:35] All right.
[0:36] I will do that, yes, sir.
[0:36] Don't you think it's a good idea?
[0:37] I have five subjects to talk to him about.
[0:40] One of them is export promotion activities of U.S. tax legislation, impoundments, and the dealing with Congress on that, price and wage controls, and energy.
[0:49] Yes.
[0:50] Now, you tell him on that that you and I discussed it all, and tell him on the energy thing that I realize his problem.
[0:57] He's going to take a leave from his firm, so that'll help some.
[1:01] But on the other hand, everybody knows his firm is enormously interested in the Russian gas deal and the Mideast deal and all that sort of thing.
[1:10] And he knows a lot about it, but the point is...
[1:12] If he gets out in front of them, they'll kill him and us.
[1:15] That's right.
[1:16] And that's the point that I'm calling it.
[1:18] What does he think that he can do consistently with that problem and that the Senate president considers him to be the top outside man in this field and that we ought to have a meeting on the thing and maybe we ought to put something together.
[1:32] All right.
[1:32] We'll do that.
[1:33] All right.
[1:33] All right.
[1:35] Thank you.