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Conversation 023-019

TapeTape 23StartTuesday, April 18, 1972 at 11:55 AMEndTuesday, April 18, 1972 at 11:58 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Cox, Tricia NixonRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AudioNARA Description

On April 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 11:55 am to 11:58 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 23-19

Date: April 18, 1972
Time: 11:55-11:58 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Tricia Nixon Cox.

[See also Conversation No. 711-9]

     Tricia Nixon Cox's schedule
           -Attendance at table tennis match
                -William P. Rogers
                -Demonstrations at University of Maryland
                     -Nationalist Chinese
                            -Mao Tse-tung
                     -Ho Chi Minh
                     -People's Republic of China [PRC] response
                -Crowd reaction
                     -Demonstrations and arrests
                     -Rogers
                     -The President's schedule vis-a-vis universities
               -White House staff
                     -David N. Parker
                     -Henry A. Kissinger's staff
          -Mike Douglas Show
               -Trip to Philadelphia in mid-May

     University of Maryland
          -Demonstrations
          -Students

     The President's schedule
          -Tricia Nixon Cox’s possible role as tour leader
          -Meeting with PRC and US table tennis teams
                -Tricia Nixon Cox's possible role as tour leader
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
Hello.
Daddy, it's me.
Hi.
Hi.
How did it go last night?
Oh, did you hear?
Well, Bill Rogers told me he saw you there.
He said there were a few demonstrators around, but he said it went all right.
How did you feel?
Oh, he thought it went all right.
That's interesting.
Yeah.
Well, yeah, he called this morning.
There were quite a few demonstrators because it was held at the University.
Well, they were demonstrating on all sides.
That's right.
The Nationalist Chinese were out, and then they were shouting down with Mayo, and then the other people were shouting, you know, Ho Chi Minh.
Ho Chi Minh.
But we were very loudly booed when we walked in.
You were?
Very loudly, yeah.
You and who?
You and Rogers?
And Rogers, yeah.
Do you think you should not have gone?
It was a bad one to do.
It was a good idea, but we shouldn't have gone to the University of Maryland for it.
It was the motleyest crew you've ever seen.
Well, that's my view about going to the universities.
Well, I hope it didn't bother you too much, though.
No, it didn't.
It was just, I know, I was just embarrassed because the Chinese issued a complaint.
Complaint about what?
Oh, you know, that they were being rude to Chairman Mao.
They were insulting Chairman Mao.
There's nothing we could do.
They blew the Chinese, too?
No, they didn't blow the Chinese.
No, they didn't.
What they mean, did they announce you as secretary when you went in?
Yeah, first they announced me, and then they raised loud boos.
Oh, it was incredible.
Of course, our people are very vociferous, so it just sounded much louder, and that's what, you know, was carried on the news.
And then carried on the news.
But anyway, yeah, and of course they didn't even say that later rocks would have been, you know, there was rocks.
throwing by these people.
Was there?
Who did they throw at?
The authorities.
A number were arrested.
And then they introduced Rogers.
They booed him, too?
Yeah, they booed him, too.
And then they had chants.
There was a chant about me.
But they didn't really take on Rogers.
That was good.
Well, they wouldn't because he didn't do it.
Yeah.
Well, I was concerned about the thing myself.
Yeah, well, see, you were so much smarter than he is.
Because I'm always of the view that you don't go to university where they have a chance to.
Well, I called today and said that never again, you know, that there were so many others.
Well, our people were a little stupid.
They were stupid.
Who arranged this?
Well, David Parker.
But apparently Kissinger's people thought it was a good thing to do.
Yeah.
They were the ones who recommended it, and I think, I said, well, the idea was fine, but there were half a dozen other things that they did, like going to Williamsburg and all, that would have been better.
if they wanted me to do something at all.
How did you go?
Have you done the Mike Douglas show yet?
No, I'm going to do that, I think, in May.
Oh, good.
When I go to Philadelphia.
I'm going to Philadelphia for a couple of things.
When are you going to Philadelphia?
Oh, you're going to do it?
Fine.
Yeah, I think it's about the middle of May.
Well, don't let the booing bother you.
The thing to do is that our... Daddy, these people are horrible.
Our people are just too goddamn stupid to have any brains to even think of... You know, I thought of the University of Maryland thing.
You know, the only thing is, I thought of it, but that was yesterday.
I thought the University...
I said, well, there were demonstrations there.
It was a horrible hotbed.
Radicalism.
This university has always been that way.
And I thought, well, maybe it's all right because students aren't radical anymore, but I don't know.
Okay.
Where are you going to be today?
Here.
Just here.
You're going to meet the team, right?
Yeah, I'm going to see right now.
Right this minute.
Yeah, what else did you want to tell me?
Was there something else?
No, they wanted me to take them on a tour, but I didn't, you know.
Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm going to take them, and then you can take them on the tour.
But what time do you see them?
Well, I'm just walking out this minute, and I'll be rid of them in 10 minutes, 15 minutes, I hope.
Oh, well, then I guess I'm not taking them on the tour because no one got back to me about it.
Okay, good luck.
Well, no, I think you are taking them on the tour, but I don't know.
I don't know how they...
We'll see.
Just hang around.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah.
Okay.
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