Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 220-004
Date: Saturday, October 14, 1972 at 3:50 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.
Recording device: Camp David Hard Wire
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/220-004

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:03] Well, we can't hear anything new, right?
[0:16] Good.
[0:18] Actually, the 20% limitation basically got the best of both worlds.
[0:40] It gives us a reason for cutting, you know what I mean, a little discipline with bureaucracy.
[0:42] And on the other hand, it gives us discretion, right?
[0:43] And a chance to blame Congress still.
[0:43] Right.
[0:44] Right.
[0:44] Bob, incidentally, did talk to that fellow.
[0:45] He's just delighted.
[0:45] Philadelphia.
[0:45] Yeah.
[0:46] Yeah, apparently.
[1:06] It's a great idea.
[1:06] Of course, it is.
[1:07] It is a good idea.
[1:07] But don't you think it really is a good idea?
[1:08] Yeah.
[1:08] It's just going to be a picture, and I think your idea is standing out front.
[1:10] Of course, we have a weather problem.
[1:10] We've got to watch.
[1:11] But if we can, we'll find a way to get out there.
[1:12] Yeah.
[1:12] Right, right.
[1:13] And I think that it really isn't too gimmicky because of the sense that the mayor invited us, he's a Democrat, the mayor is constitutional, and that's where it all began, and now we're making this change back to the Constitution, right?
[1:36] So, anyway, okay, yeah.
[1:37] Yeah, you don't have to unless there's something I need to know.
[2:02] They're still sort of billing for the day.
[2:03] I see that it's kind of still puffing and puffing with these analysis hearings and so forth.
[2:05] It's just such a damn problem.
[2:06] Coming this late, it is a blatant thing, of course.
[2:25] But, you know, it's quite a parade that he has Mitchell and Keith.
[2:26] You can't, you can't blame any, Mitchell would have to appear.
[2:28] And so it stands.
[2:28] We keep the White House on it.
[2:29] It's like a privilege over the others.
[2:29] Of course, they'll be pretty good witnesses.
[2:30] Right.
[2:30] Just, just one of those.
[2:31] Okay.