Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 253-013
Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1971 at 2:21 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Woods, Rose Mary
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/253-013

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I wonder, on the police situation, if it would be useful to meet him.
[0:09] We've talked about the years of the New York situation, to stir up people and get such great play.
[0:22] There's Jackass Spiker, of course, who's been there.
[0:38] Yeah, this guy, the poor damn guy went to church in full.
[0:48] They're being had and done.
[0:54] Nicely.
[0:58] The other thing I thought was the commercial possibility of the boat.
[1:06] So that wasn't supposed to happen.
[1:21] But of course, I guess they're all over the country.
[1:24] Is that what you're going to do?
[1:28] Well, you see, the thing about Hoover, John, is that you know what our plans are.
[1:32] We're going to be sure to come for January or something, but we've got to be thinking through.
[1:42] 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.
[1:51] I'm thinking you, Hoover, Mitchell, and so forth.
[2:00] All right, well you get a hold of him and see, I've got something in five.
[2:16] Now, the other point I want you to do is, I've just been reading over again,
[2:28] I'm not sure.
[2:28] I mean, it's, of course, certainly the right thing.
[2:30] I'm not sure.
[2:30] I'm not sure.
[2:31] I'm not sure.
[2:57] 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
[3:21] And I do feel that there is something that you said.
[3:22] I know that everybody says, well, NASA is not capable of doing it.
[3:26] And everything can happen.
[3:28] Turn around and ask, is there a way to manage program?
[3:33] On the other hand, I have damn little confidence in the interior part of the job.
[3:43] I'm not concerned about that.
[3:52] Because, first of all, you know Dan well, and you brought him home.
[4:20] I don't think he's probably, he's not in much of great shape.
[4:24] The guy that was there seemed to be a pretty nice fellow.
[4:29] But the flare is something that I don't think they've done anything to do it.
[4:33] 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
[4:46] in another area.
[4:46] 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.
[4:58] There can't be any after July.
[5:00] And if you all agree it's not after July, I don't want to risk any more than that.
[5:07] And, well, my point is, why not fight the population?
[5:11] Why not send it over there?
[5:13] I'm not the Congressman, I don't know what that is.
[5:17] They say, well, it'll hurt our initiative with regard to the Department of Natural Resources.
[5:22] Nobody gives a tinker tantrum on the Department of Natural Resources.
[5:32] I don't, no, I know, I know, and you've got to see it all.
[5:35] It's like everything else.
[5:36] I mean, you can't handle it.
[5:38] I understand we can go ahead on that, even though they're committed to it the other way.
[5:42] Except we've got to really speak to the committee.
[5:45] Well, I'll just get Abe there and talk to him.
[5:49] I'll say, Eddie, I say, that's my home state.
[5:50] You've got your problems, and I expect you to listen to my home state.
[5:56] What's that?
[5:57] But do not include the M. Which he wants.
[6:03] Well, we won't fool with that.
[6:04] Or maybe he's sure he knows we might.
[6:05] You started the proposition with him in this respect.
[6:11] You started the proposition with him.
[6:16] Well, maybe that isn't the best way.
[6:18] Maybe McGregor could go down and see him and say, I don't care.
[6:21] I don't care.
[6:24] You're interested in the state.
[6:31] Well, the point is, the point is they're wrong.
[6:43] They're wrong.
[6:51] It's the officer's fault.
[6:52] Now, I don't have to listen to that.
[6:57] He doesn't know the beach.
[6:58] Christ, there's thousands there.
[6:59] No, there's another 20 miles to a beach just as good or anything better than this beach.
[7:03] The better beaches toward Oceanside, you know.
[7:06] Sure, well, the beach toward Oceanside gets better, you know.
[7:11] The cliffs get lower.
[7:12] And down there is where you get the magnificent beach.
[7:15] The trees are better than San Juan's beach.
[7:17] The rocks aren't there.
[7:19] No way.
[7:23] Why are we doing it?
[7:32] We're doing it for two reasons.
[7:37] One, I'm doing it for the water.
[7:52] But we may never make a breakthrough.
[7:54] There's two of them in California, in Texas, or in Carolina.
[7:58] 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.
[8:12] For social ends, exactly right, rather than just going to the moon.
[8:16] And I think, why the hell not start on the moon?
[8:21] No.
[8:22] Yeah?
[8:23] Well, you can leave, of course.
[8:25] But the main point is this needs to save the market.
[8:37] I don't mind the research.
[8:41] Maybe some of the basic research
[8:49] What is needed is the application of the management, the building of big plants and all that sort of thing.
[8:55] Damn, it ought to be in something like NASA, because the interior isn't where it's goddamn in that respect.
[9:02] If you don't know, well, there's how to.
[9:05] Bureau of Reclamation.
[9:08] I'm in great ships.
[9:11] I'm in great ships.
[9:13] I'm in great ships.
[9:14] I'm in great ships.
[9:16] that I just want to get away from.
[9:17] Let's get the new, let's get the fly boys, the new kind of intelligence, the new kind of technicians.
[9:23] Not the old farts that have been running around the chair here for the last 15 years that haven't learned anything.
[9:30] I really think that's true, John.
[9:34] Yeah, are you talking to him?
[9:36] All right, now, now let me ask you to do this.
[9:39] This is a very good idea, because he's there.
[9:42] I want you to give this damn paper to him.
[9:44] Did he remember the day we discussed murder?
[9:47] Yes, he was.
[9:48] And I said, all right, here, now, would he gamble with going there, or is he believing the scheme of the fireman?
[9:57] And, uh, let's talk about that.
[9:59] Now, in that case, you want me to call all of them to California?
[10:03] Fine.
[10:04] 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.
[10:13] And, uh, we'll...