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Conversation 018-008

TapeTape 18StartMonday, January 3, 1972 at 12:13 PMEndMonday, January 3, 1972 at 12:15 PMTape start time00:08:49Tape end time00:11:10ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Allen, George E.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and George E. Allen exchanged New Year's greetings and discussed the political climate, including Nixon's high popularity rankings alongside Billy Graham. Nixon specifically solicited an anecdote from Allen regarding Harry Hopkins to use against Office of Management and Budget officials during budget negotiations. Additionally, the two men discussed the political necessity of recent U.S. bombing missions in North Vietnam as a means to protect American troops and facilitate withdrawal.

Federal BudgetHarry HopkinsVietnam WarPresidential PopularityGeorge P. Shultz
AudioNARA Description

On January 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and George E. Allen talked on the telephone from 12:13 pm to 12:15 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 018-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 18-8

Date: January 3, 1972
Time: 12:13 pm - 12:15 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George E. Allen.

[See Conversation No. 642-31]

     Harry L. Hopkins story
          -George P. Shultz
               -Budget
          -Requisition for shovels

     Support for the President

     New Year's wishes

     The President's popularity reflected in poll
          -Reverend William F. (“Billy”) Graham

     Critics
           -Bombing of North Vietnam
               -Reasons
                    -Troop withdrawal

                           -US casualties

     Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
          -Reception

     Hopkins story
         -Shultz
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Hello.
Here's Mr. Allen.
Yeah.
You can take it now.
Hello.
President.
Hello.
Mr. Allen.
Hello.
Yes, Mr. President.
George?
Yes, sir.
I wanted to ask you, I was trying to remember, George Shultz came in with a final budget.
What that Harry Hopkins story was about leaning on the shovel?
Oh, yes.
Harry said, uh...
They sent in a requisition for about 5,000 shovels.
Oh, yes.
And Harry wired them back, let them lean on each other.
Oh, let them lean on each other.
All right, I got it, I got it.
I want them to give the budget boys they're just having their...
You go through the egg and I'm going to say, let them lean on each other.
That's a good thing.
Mr. Preston, I think you're just going great.
I'm so proud of you.
Well, thank you, George.
Thank you.
Okay, just keep it up.
I just wish you a happy new year.
I wish you just a... And we...
I tell you, you saw you, you're still the most popular man.
That's great to know.
Well, that's only, George, because you're president, you know.
That's the one they know.
I think Billy Graham being second shows that it's a kind of a change in atmosphere.
Well, you know, I noticed some of our usual critics were squealing about the fact that I happened to bomb a few targets in North Vietnam.
You know, that'll pay off in the end because you know what it means.
You've been so right.
Well, the point is that we did it so that we can continue our withdrawal.
We're not going to let those clowns get down there and kill a few Americans.
That's right.
Well, look, we had one man killed last week.
That's right.
That's right.
Well, good to talk to you, George.
President, Ms. Nixon seems to be doing a good job.
She had a terrific reception.
Well, I'll remember that now, and I'll call George Schultz.
Yeah, just tell him that Harry Hopper, they wired in for 5,000 shovels.
Yeah, yeah.
And Harry says, just let them lean on each other.
They wired in from out some office.
Yeah, some state office.
Yeah.
A requisite.
I'll say that California wired in.
Yeah, California wired in.
All right, fine.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay.
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