Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 203-013
Date: Thursday, August 17, 1972 at 10:16 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: Camp David Hard Wire
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/203-013

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yeah, at the right time.
[0:28] Couldn't get into the rules.
[0:31] That operation is on.
[1:03] That's right.
[1:07] What it should be is just have them out there, hand in the mouth, as you do.
[1:47] Give me one.
[1:53] He's a first-class man.
[1:56] That starts us with our... That would be a very good example of our open-door policy, Bob.
[2:05] Well, he can make an absolute strict commitment.
[2:08] Fine.
[2:08] Fine.
[2:11] Fine.
[2:36] Yeah.
[2:37] Sort of a respect there.
[2:40] Now you're talking.
[2:41] In other words, a white paper on it.
[2:45] Right?
[2:46] Also, going back to this earlier, and the interference of foreign policy.
[2:51] Let's start with the Truman quote.
[2:52] I would start with the Truman quote, and I'd say, did I prefer the Truman quote, if I could
[3:06] and all of his troubles abroad, and there was no order, and other reports.
[3:14] Now, here is the conduct of the Governor-Commissioner, and the negotiations are very active.
[3:20] They're doing this.
[3:21] Here is the record.
[3:21] It just broke in.
[3:22] No rhetoric.
[3:23] No charge on the Patriot Committee.
[3:25] Just say, not that one.
[3:26] It's wrong.
[3:27] Oh, hell no.
[4:04] All right, how about eight?
[4:09] Yeah.
[4:10] I'll tell you, Margaret Smith would be better.
[4:13] You know, her decoration across the projects kind of thing.
[4:17] Yeah.
[4:37] He doesn't think so, but we don't know.
[4:45] Even now, it would be a big crisis.
[4:48] That's my point.
[5:05] On the other hand, it does point out our failure.
[5:11] I'm just going to say I'm disappointed.
[5:14] I'm sorry.
[5:15] We're doing our best.
[5:23] That has been.
[5:38] No, no, they don't understand it.
[5:57] How about that?
[6:00] Well, well, why don't you...
[6:02] I want to prompt you to it.
[6:06] No, no, he's not going to do it.
[6:08] how about frankly Margaret Smith sounds awfully good if she could do it or you could check around the city for relations well that I like yeah
[6:37] I think that would be good.
[6:41] But we should write it for him so as to keep the rhetoric down.
[6:47] I think that's the best.
[6:48] I really do.
[6:49] If he bid on that at all, just say that I don't feel, frankly, that it ought to be done in a partisan format.
[7:04] Secondly,
[7:05] but I believe it could better come from a Democrat.
[7:08] And third, that I think it would really be a very great shift.
[7:13] They'll expect him to make sort of a slashy thing, but he could put it in terms of more thorough and an anchor along the lines.
[7:21] And he said, I just want to talk about bipartisanship in foreign policy without indicating why he's for next week.
[7:27] That's a
[7:39] I think he's by far the best person to do it.
[7:50] By far the best.
[7:51] And also, I like the idea that he is getting involved in foreign policy for those reasons.
[8:02] I just think it's great.
[8:04] But let's ask him if he wants...
[8:10] Well, it takes to get the facts, but then on the speech writing.
[8:33] My colleagues will let him work on this.
[8:36] The facts you don't understand.
[8:40] lead back on mine and all the changes I've made to take all the partisanship out.
[8:46] But I think Conley's by far the best.
[8:48] Let's have bipartisanship.
[8:50] Let's don't play politics with peace.
[8:54] That should be the title of the speech.
[8:58] Let's not play partisan politics with peace.
[9:03] You know what I mean?
[9:04] And then find out, congratulating the BFW.
[9:11] I think that's the best.
[9:17] I would call it.
[9:27] No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
[9:33] I want to keep Ron.
[9:35] I want to keep Ron.
[9:40] All clients stay out of it, too.
[9:44] All of my house's spokesmen, they stay out of this kind of thing.
[9:54] See?
[9:54] It's just too close to us.
[9:55] I think particularly since it's being given to me, I just keep going.
[10:03] I get elevated to the state president of Texas.
[10:08] Now, the only thing I would suggest to him,
[10:10] I think that's so vicious.
[10:18] Okay.
[10:19] All right.
[10:20] That's good.
[10:28] I kind of feel it.
[10:29] What I mean is, I don't want Ron to say a word.
[10:33] What I mean is, the purpose of this is defending.
[10:36] The purpose of this is they're charging low roll.
[10:40] I want the charge and the word used that it's a dirty, low-road campaign.
[10:46] A campaign of slander, lies, and vilification.
[11:03] Got it?
[11:03] On everything.
[11:04] Yeah.
[11:04] I want this to be the idea of a low road.
[11:06] Let Dole say that too.
[11:09] I tell them all that it started in the government, a low-growth campaign.
[11:13] Well, they figure a better word, a campaign of smear and fear.
[11:21] Yeah.
[11:39] I haven't heard from Ron, so I assume he didn't do anything about that bitch.
[11:45] No, there's that.
[11:47] There's many, many more.
[11:48] There's many more.
[11:50] But I just think it's more important for the moment.
[11:53] Long term, I just want to be sure you all understood.
[11:56] A guardian has to be put on her so she doesn't get at anybody again.
[11:58] And the other thing is that she's sick.
[12:03] And that CPS is going to be screwed with regard to the handling.
[12:11] and don't give one to CBS.
[12:18] Perhaps.
[12:18] And that's the way I do it.
[12:19] Very obvious.