Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 250-016
Date: Friday, April 16, 1971 at 3:15 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/250-016

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:54] So I wanted to get that slide.
[1:03] Well, I didn't want to do it.
[1:08] I didn't want to do it.
[1:11] I didn't want to do it.
[1:17] No, I don't agree with that.
[1:24] No, I don't agree with that.
[1:31] No, I don't agree with that.
[1:35] I wouldn't kick their balls off.
[1:47] Well, I think it's highly irresponsible to raise this issue.
[1:51] They know this is a police state.
[1:54] They know they're not spying on innocent people.
[1:57] What do they want you to do?
[1:57] Say, well, we think it's bad.
[1:59] No, no, no.
[1:59] I don't mean we're sorry.
[2:00] No, no, no.
[2:01] It's just repression.
[2:02] No, sir.
[2:02] No, sir.
[2:03] No, sir.
[2:03] Now, go on.
[2:03] Get away from there.
[2:05] The Washington Post is, I'm going to name them specifically, a higher responsibility than trying to run a scare story.
[2:13] picture of a camera on the White House with the idea that babies wouldn't be allowed in a park?
[2:21] That's what I suggested.
[2:22] You were just right.
[2:23] You were just right.
[2:24] You should have been tougher.
[2:27] Oh, no, no, no.
[2:29] I don't got that.
[2:31] I've taken them right in the balls.
[2:34] Oh, my God, that people in the press corps, they're going to get it right in the ass and hard.
[2:47] I mean hard.
[2:49] Oh, no, no, no.
[2:56] He charges, they have his line.
[2:58] Well, does he know the crew?
[2:59] He saw it, said that he had been with them the next time he said something.
[3:04] I don't know.
[3:05] I was going to send him through.
[3:06] Maybe he probably just thought it was.
[3:08] It didn't happen.
[3:10] Well, in 1970, why?
[3:11] What was he doing?
[3:12] Well, there was an investigation.
[3:16] He was some sort of detective player.
[3:18] He didn't know the capital.
[3:19] It was the other way.
[3:21] See, there was a place on the former side of the line.
[3:24] Right.
[3:25] Say, of course.
[3:26] Well, yes, they tap me.
[3:27] Oh, the farm here, I call it.
[3:30] The Soviet embassy taps.
[3:33] Every time Kissinger talks to Kosygin, it's tapped.
[3:36] It's tapped.
[3:37] Why do they want to be slob?
[3:41] No, I use it for the other guy.
[3:43] I'm a slob, I don't use it for the other guy.
[3:45] I'm not going to let them get away with not doing anything.
[3:52] You know what most chaps were?
[3:53] I'm going to say so.
[3:54] During the period of Robert Kennedy's attorney general.
[3:58] 1961-1961.
[4:00] Joe, in 1963, there were 100 taps a year, and one in 1990.
[4:05] Great.
[4:06] Joe, don't you worry.
[4:07] I'll back that up.
[4:08] The point I make is that Boggs, or Muskie, or New Jersey, can create a climate of discomfort.
[4:15] The administration is motivated to tap and spy on law-abiding citizens, and that simply is not our policy.
[4:23] I'm just pointing to our political vote.
[4:27] Directly, I'm not going to do that.
[4:30] Say I agree completely, and they ask me if I would do it otherwise, and they ask me directly, I'll give it to them.
[4:38] They don't have any problem with that issue.
[4:43] They're creating the only issue.
[4:45] They have a lot of interest in that.
[4:47] They know better than that.
[4:48] Who asked this question?
[4:50] List it over.
[4:51] It sounds like it.
[4:53] No, it was a question.
[4:54] Why is it part of the American story?
[4:56] The air company.
[4:58] So they were just encouraging the policy.
[5:02] And I'm saying, you know, it's a consideration.
[5:05] And so it's fine for the U.S. to name its citizens.
[5:10] But the I.S.U.
[5:11] has a responsibility.
[5:12] And crime.
[5:13] Where it's crimes, we get courted.
[5:15] And there have been 300, including 100 arrests as a result of treatment.
[5:18] The best job they have to do is court them.
[5:22] In the case of the national security, which includes domestic security,
[5:30] That's right.
[5:31] That's right.
[5:52] Thank you.
[5:52] Thank you.
[5:53] Thank you.
[5:53] Thank you.