Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 191-010
Date: Thursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:24 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: Camp David Hard Wire
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/191-010

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yeah.
[0:06] In 59, I recall taking several representative items from American industry to Moscow and giving them to these people.
[0:15] Now, they were not expensive items.
[0:16] You know what I mean?
[0:17] Some of our corn products and things of that sort.
[0:22] But they were not from the government.
[0:23] They were from various industries here that wanted the Russians to have their products.
[0:29] I wonder if there's any way you can work this out.
[0:31] Your GM does this damn thing.
[0:34] I really think, and we'll say that, you see, basically, they, the pro-Soviet government makes hydrofoils.
[0:38] GM makes the car.
[0:40] We say that we were receiving one, and they indicated they'd like a car.
[0:43] GM said, fine, we'll give them one of those.
[0:45] So that isn't that I gave them the goddamn thing.
[0:48] Or the taxpayers paid for the Cadillac.
[0:50] That's the thing.
[0:51] If it comes down to that, I'll pay for the Cadillac.
[0:53] You know what I mean?
[0:55] No, I'm serious.
[0:56] I'd simply say that we don't have the funds for it.
[1:00] But I don't want to do that either.
[1:02] I don't see why GM just can't give them one.
[1:08] Or pay to it.
[1:08] The problem, the PR problem, would become infinitely less.
[1:12] Fine.
[1:13] Fine.
[1:13] They'd be up for General Motors.
[1:15] Fine.