Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 226-015
Date: Friday, November 17, 1972 at 6:20 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: Camp David Hard Wire
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/226-015

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I think the important thing to get across to Bill in the morning, and I, what I'm really trying to do is to encourage him to exercise the faith.
[0:20] I mean, this is the right thing, and I'm sure he can do the same.
[0:22] I think you should tell him that, Bill, I can't put you in the hole.
[0:25] We have to think about it.
[0:26] I was very relaxed about it and happy about it.
[0:28] It's all worth having.
[0:31] I think Bill's got to know what it is.
[0:42] He must not get away with the idea that he's standing up and defending his colleagues.
[0:50] Yeah.
[0:50] He's got to act and put on that face.
[0:57] Don't you agree?
[0:57] That's how we do it.
[0:59] say that, well, the available presence is now directly and directly connected to all of them.
[1:12] We have everything worked out.
[1:14] They're all very happy about it.
[1:17] They're very happy.
[1:19] We have other positions.
[1:20] Some of them want to leave, or some of them are going to stay.
[1:21] The only problem is we're going to kill a few.
[1:23] So we've got to remember that this is what it's going to be.
[1:25] And we have to run it.
[1:25] I think there will be a cold turkey today.
[1:28] He doesn't think he's putting himself in the position of defending his colleagues in the camp.
[1:37] That's bullshit.
[1:39] Bill never cares about his colleagues in the camp.
[1:47] Never has.
[1:48] He never cares about anybody but himself.
[1:50] It might be nothing.
[1:51] Okay.
[1:51] What time is it?
[1:51] Eleven o'clock tomorrow.
[1:52] Now, don't tell him that we worked the Richardson thing out.
[1:55] Don't tell him a goddamn thing.
[1:57] I can't tell you about it because the president's giving us all the votes.
[2:06] Do you have any other votes?
[2:08] No, I'm calling.
[2:10] What did he really say?
[2:11] Because I was with other people.
[2:13] About Colson.
[2:15] What do you think?
[2:17] Because he likes Colson.
[2:32] Well, he realized it doesn't have to be close.
[2:45] Yeah.
[2:49] All right.
[2:52] Well, of course we are.
[2:55] All right.
[2:56] All right.
[2:57] All right.
[2:57] Good, good, good, good.
[3:02] All right.
[3:21] All right.
[3:22] All right.
[3:23] All right.
[3:23] All right.
[3:26] In the morning, you're going to talk to Colson.
[3:33] Even though Chuck thinks there's no chance.
[4:04] I think there's a one in five chance, see?
[4:14] What did you say?
[4:16] You think there's one in five chance?
[4:19] To me, I want his best man to be recommended.
[4:25] I want him as early as possible in the next couple of weeks.
[4:27] Small dinner here, can't wait for the White House where he gets some of the top labor people in.
[4:33] So that I can sit with him.
[4:34] about his future.
[4:39] I will make the transition myself.
[4:40] See?
[4:41] Okay.
[4:42] Anything else?
[4:49] You're back.
[4:52] You're back.
[5:06] I'd like you to call Mr. Henry's hole and yell at him.
[5:12] Perfect yell at him.
[5:17] You know the name of the guy.
[5:17] Why don't you just yell at him?
[5:18] That's it.
[5:18] Henry does these things a lot.
[5:20] You know that.
[5:33] Right, right, right, right.
[5:36] All right.
[5:36] Get out of Henry right away and tell him I hold him personally responsible for this because it's his man.
[5:51] Get it in the first thing in the morning.
[5:52] But he's not going to call me.
[5:52] It's always when you call Henry, tell him the contact is clean and he'll get on with me.
[5:54] Good.
[5:54] Good.
[5:56] You going back now?
[5:57] Good.
[5:57] Okay.
[5:59] Well, I think everything's in good shape, don't you think so?
[6:02] You talk to Rogers at 11 o'clock, lay it right on the line.
[6:07] And you think it's possible that you might say the hell with it.
[6:20] If he does, we accept it.
[6:21] If he doesn't, fine, we accept him.
[6:25] But we're going to accept the cold turkey turn.
[6:28] That's the main thing.
[6:30] We're going to name everybody in the department.
[6:32] Everybody up and down the line.
[6:36] There's not going to be Secretary of State to collate these men.
[6:39] Okay?
[6:39] Okay, bud.