Nixon, Ehrlichman & Woods on Water scarcity and NASA

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I wonder, on the police situation, if it would be useful to meet him.

We've talked about the years of the New York situation, to stir up people and get such great play.

There's Jackass Spiker, of course, who's been there.

Yeah, this guy, the poor damn guy went to church in full.

They're being had and done.

Nicely.

The other thing I thought was the commercial possibility of the boat.

So that wasn't supposed to happen.

But of course, I guess they're all over the country.

Is that what you're going to do?

Well, you see, the thing about Hoover, John, is that you know what our plans are.

We're going to be sure to come for January or something, but we've got to be thinking through.

On the other hand, we just can't accept the public statement that we have to go out of our control to get in here.

I'm thinking you, Hoover, Mitchell, and so forth.

All right, well you get a hold of him and see, I've got something in five.

Now, the other point I want you to do is, I've just been reading over again,

I'm not sure.

I mean, it's, of course, certainly the right thing.

I'm not sure.

My concern is that if all we're going to do is give our money to the Department of Interior, I just don't think Washington

And I do feel that there is something that you said.

I know that everybody says, well, NASA is not capable of doing it.

And everything can happen.

Turn around and ask, is there a way to manage program?

On the other hand, I have damn little confidence in the interior part of the job.

I'm not concerned about that.

Because, first of all, you know Dan well, and you brought him home.

I don't think he's probably, he's not in much of great shape.

The guy that was there seemed to be a pretty nice fellow.

But the flare is something that I don't think they've done anything to do it.

I just think that, now let me put it this way, apart from the water problem, I think there's a lot of public interest in the idea of using NASA's components

in another area.

Also, John, it's a way of, and I don't know what you're all about recognizing, but we've got to get a way to get off those damn moonshots and give you a break in that plane.

There can't be any after July.

And if you all agree it's not after July, I don't want to risk any more than that.

And, well, my point is, why not fight the population?

Why not send it over there?

I'm not the Congressman, I don't know what that is.

They say, well, it'll hurt our initiative with regard to the Department of Natural Resources.

Nobody gives a tinker tantrum on the Department of Natural Resources.

I don't, no, I know, I know, and you've got to see it all.

It's like everything else.

I mean, you can't handle it.

I understand we can go ahead on that, even though they're committed to it the other way.

Except we've got to really speak to the committee.

Well, I'll just get Abe there and talk to him.

I'll say, Eddie, I say, that's my home state.

You've got your problems, and I expect you to listen to my home state.

What's that?

But do not include the M. Which he wants.

Well, we won't fool with that.

Or maybe he's sure he knows we might.

You started the proposition with him in this respect.

You started the proposition with him.

Well, maybe that isn't the best way.

Maybe McGregor could go down and see him and say, I don't care.

I don't care.

You're interested in the state.

Well, the point is, the point is they're wrong.

They're wrong.

It's the officer's fault.

Now, I don't have to listen to that.

He doesn't know the beach.

Christ, there's thousands there.

No, there's another 20 miles to a beach just as good or anything better than this beach.

The better beaches toward Oceanside, you know.

Sure, well, the beach toward Oceanside gets better, you know.

The cliffs get lower.

And down there is where you get the magnificent beach.

The trees are better than San Juan's beach.

The rocks aren't there.

No way.

Why are we doing it?

We're doing it for two reasons.

One, I'm doing it for the water.

But we may never make a breakthrough.

There's two of them in California, in Texas, or in Carolina.

But three, I'm doing it for the concept of a scientist, a new use of America's, in other words, let's start at this thing of applied science in one place.

For social ends, exactly right, rather than just going to the moon.

And I think, why the hell not start on the moon?

No.

Yeah?

Well, you can leave, of course.

But the main point is this needs to save the market.

I don't mind the research.

Maybe some of the basic research

What is needed is the application of the management, the building of big plants and all that sort of thing.

Damn, it ought to be in something like NASA, because the interior isn't where it's goddamn in that respect.

If you don't know, well, there's how to.

Bureau of Reclamation.

I'm in great ships.

that I just want to get away from.

Let's get the new, let's get the fly boys, the new kind of intelligence, the new kind of technicians.

Not the old farts that have been running around the chair here for the last 15 years that haven't learned anything.

I really think that's true, John.

Yeah, are you talking to him?

All right, now, now let me ask you to do this.

This is a very good idea, because he's there.

I want you to give this damn paper to him.

Did he remember the day we discussed murder?

Yes, he was.

And I said, all right, here, now, would he gamble with going there, or is he believing the scheme of the fireman?

And, uh, let's talk about that.

Now, in that case, you want me to call all of them to California?

Fine.

And, uh, set up the meeting, and I'll meet with, I'll meet with, uh, the four of you any time you're ready, sir.

And, uh, we'll...

Nixon, Ehrlichman & Woods on Water scarcity and NASA

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

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