Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 219 › Conversation 219-010

Nixon phone call with Mills on Legislative Strategy

Tuesday, October 10, 1972 · 8:46 PM–8:50 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mills, Wilbur D.Conversation219-010 on Tape 219StartTuesday, October 10, 1972 at 8:46 PMEndTuesday, October 10, 1972 at 8:50 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 219-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Congressman Wilbur D. Mills to solicit praise and strategic advice regarding a recent legislative speech delivered on the House floor. Following a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two discussed coordinating a high-stakes meeting with Senate leadership scheduled for the following Thursday morning. Nixon sought to align legislative strategy while navigating the sensitive, partisan nature of the upcoming discussions with key senators.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Hello?
Wilbur, how are you?
I thought you should know that, unfortunately, I don't get down to get to the galleries.
People notice me, but several people who heard your speech today, and they were, of course, many Republicans, said that it was one of the greatest speeches ever made on the floor of the House, and I just thought you'd like to know that before you went to bed.
Yeah, I know, I know.
But I'll tell you, it was a very statesmanlike thing.
And it was a great thing to do for the country.
We don't know what our friends in the Senate will do.
I just wish to hell you were there.
Can you do this?
What do you mean now?
Tony, if you've got a minute.
How is it, Tony, the legislative situation?
Because I've got to get the senators in Thursday morning to talk to them.
All right, I'll get him in.
All right, I'll get him down.
How about Russell?
All right, then we'll get Jordan.
And I'll make this whatever Republican group, then I'll make it just Republicans.
I think that's better because otherwise it's partisan.
I understand.
Yeah, I'm sure we can get first.
All right, we'll do it.
If you've got any thoughts, pass it on.
I'm going to meet with them 9 o'clock Thursday morning.
And, uh...
All right.
Fine.
We're going to tell, if you would mind, if you would meet with him or whoever you, and tell him what the strategy is so that we can sort of know what to do, huh?
I know, I know, I know what this is.
It's very, very, very delicate.
Yeah, right.
Well, anyway, give my best to that child that answered the phone.
I'll usually call you.
Okay.
Yeah, no, no, no, your wife.
Do you remember?
Okay, thank you.

NARA Description

On October 10, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Wilbur D. Mills met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:46 pm to 8:50 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 219-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 219-10

Date: October 10, 1972
Time: 8:46 pm - 8:50 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Wilbur D. Mills.

[See Conversation No. 148-8]

Also recorded on October 11, 1972

  • 148-007 8:44 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:44 pm and 8:46 pm.
  • 219-009 8:44 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:44 pm and 8:46 pm.
  • 148-008 8:46 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Wilbur D. Mills talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:46 pm to 8:50 pm.
  • 148-009 8:50 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 8:52 pm.
  • 219-011 8:50 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 8:52 pm.
  • 148-010 8:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John W. Byrnes talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:52 pm to 8:55 pm.
  • 219-012 8:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John W. Byrnes met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:52 pm to 8:55 pm.
  • 148-011 9:04 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:04 pm and 9:34 pm.

All 48 conversations from October 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 219-010, October 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/219-010 (accessed September 18, 2026).