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Conversation 189-003

TapeTape 189StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 9:34 AMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 9:41 AMTape start time00:10:51Tape end time00:18:28ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Connally, John B.Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon and John Connally discussed political strategy for the 1972 election, focusing on the performances of George Wallace, Hubert Humphrey, and George McGovern in recent primaries. Nixon advised Connally’s brother to focus his campaign on the single issue of busing to gain electoral traction. The two also addressed personnel transitions within the Treasury Department, specifically emphasizing the importance of George Shultz retaining key staff like James W. Donley, and reviewed upcoming diplomatic travel plans for Connally.

1972 Presidential ElectionGeorge WallaceBusingDepartment of the TreasuryGeorge ShultzPolitical Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:34 am to 9:41 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 189-3

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 9:34 am - 9:41 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with John B. Connally.

     Greetings

     Connally's note
         -President's thanks
                -Sequoia

     Connally's health

*****************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/10/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[189-003-w002]
[Duration: 2m 26s]

      1972 election
             -Speculation
                    -George C. Wallace
                    -Moscow
             -Michigan primary
                    -George C. Wallace's performance
                    -Hubert H. Humphrey's performance
                           -The President’s opinion
             -George S. McGovern
                    -Possible nomination
                           -Potential victory in California primary
                                  -The President’s opinion of California
                                  -Political makeup of California
                                           -Liberal Democrats
             -Michigan
             -Wayne Connally
                    -Busing
                           -The President’s advice to emphasize issue

*****************************************************************

     George P. Shultz
          -Succession at Treasury Department
          -Personnel
               -Replacements
                     -Timing
                     -Staff meeting
               -James W. Donley
                     -Role

     Connally's trip to Latin America

            -Preparations
            -Australia and New Zealand

     Rest
            -Golf
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.
Hi, John.
How are you?
Well, I appreciate your nice note.
I got it on the sequoia last night.
Yeah, right.
Yeah.
Well, I'll tell you, you don't need to send the thing, but I appreciate it very much.
I hope you're feeling all right.
Great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's a
That wears you out far more than seeing people bully me.
Right.
Well, I meant every word.
And more, and more.
Oh, sure.
Let it go.
Let them speculate, let them speculate, because in the future time we can knock it down.
But they let their founders speculate it.
As a matter of fact, not that we planned it that way, the fact that this Wallace thing is there, going off to Moscow and everything, it's your right to put this story in right now, you know, because the speculation is not going to have the enormous effect on the public mind.
Yeah, yeah.
Right.
Isn't that something that Wallace did in Michigan?
Yeah.
My God.
Oh, no, no, no.
He was going to win anyway.
And Humphrey was so weak.
Good God, it was amazing.
It could, or you never know.
You never know.
You never know whether
You never know.
I must say that I have never thought it was possible that a government wins California.
Yeah.
I just don't see how they can stop him, John.
I mean, he'll prove that the way, I don't know.
And California is a screwy state, you know.
Particularly on the Democratic side, they've got all those liberal Democrats.
They've got them running out of their ears.
So, yeah.
And a state like Michigan.
You know, it occurred to me that one thought you ought to pass on to your brother is just a, I'm trying to get my advice to him.
If I were he, I would take a single issue, and I like bussing, I'd hammer it and hammer it and say he's for a constitutional amendment.
And the other fellows won't come out for that vote.
How's that?
Yeah, yeah.
as well if he could do that and get that hammered in the public mind he'll win it but he's got you know the trouble is it's you must not confuse people with too many issues and if he just takes now after this one he ought to crack that bussing thing you know and just knock their brains off and uh yeah yeah yeah well you're gonna have to uh you're gonna have to get uh george schultz uh
uh, indoctrinated now, huh?
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Right, right.
Right.
Sure.
Oh, absolutely, he mustn't change.
Well, he's got to, but he's got to work on it the other day because, uh, he's got to...
There's a reason that
Yeah.
Well, I don't think he's got men to replace him with.
You can't get people to come for six months.
He's got us all up.
He's got us all.
That's one of the reasons I emphasized in your staff meeting the fact that, you know, the people on the staff were indispensable to making the Secretary of the Treasury a man.
Right, right.
Yeah, so that way, when you're talking to George, I think he should definitely be sure he keeps Donald.
Because that's bright and smart.
And he's one he needs very much.
Because George, yeah, George doesn't...
You know, he needs somebody to sell him, and Donnelly can do that.
He can do that.
Right, right, right.
We're going to go forward on that, on an attending basis on those four Latin American countries, if you like.
I think it's an awful good idea.
The only other ones that I really think would be worth going with, so damn far away,
because nobody that really ever gets down there are Australia and New Zealand.
But, yeah, we might see.
You've done the other far eastern countries, but Australia and New Zealand are so far away, but they're darn good friends, particularly Australia.
You haven't, yeah.
Well, we'll work with people like that, too.
Well, you take care, and we have to go to rest today.
Fine.
Play golf.
All right.
Good.
Bye.
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