Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 255 › Conversation 255-003

Nixon & Mitchell on Arlen Specter and Political strategy

Friday, June 4, 1971 · 2:24 PM–2:33 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.Conversation255-003 on Tape 255 (tape position 00:01:52–00:04:10)StartFriday, June 4, 1971 at 2:24 PMEndFriday, June 4, 1971 at 2:33 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 255-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss political maneuvering and administrative challenges, specifically focusing on the performance and future prospects of political figures like Murphy and Arlen Specter. The conversation touches on the volatile nature of urban conflicts and leadership struggles. Nixon emphasizes the importance of monitoring Specter's career trajectory, characterizing him as a promising figure for the future.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I just kind of recollect the rest of it.
On our operation, the fact that you had this platform where Murphy just came to help off here, I think the controlling factor was that Murphy had criticized the chief here at all.
I'm not going to have that.
We have unanimous opinion on that.
And the other way, Murphy there, we didn't have a saw around him at all.
What do you think of this, the running battles with these black people?
Is it just going to go on?
Or is that just part of the scenario up there?
I think it was amazing.
He's a demagogue and a poor administrator.
The last one is a tough one.
And you're so much of an intellectual who's hanging all the time.
Well, you keep your eye on Specter, though, for the future.
He's the right age.
He's got a great...
You know, I've been in action, you know, so in case of war, I'm in the heart of the state, they're going to chop me, and all those guys are going to let us on the car, and I'm going to take that.
I like the ability to handle it.

NARA Description

On June 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:24 pm and 2:33 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 255-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 255-3

Date: June 4, 1971
Time: Unknown between 2:24 pm and 2:33 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John N. Mitchell

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[255-003-w002]
[Duration: 26s]

[See Conversation No. 4-30]

******************************************************************************

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[255-003-w003]
[Duration: 7s]

[See Conversation No. 4-30]

******************************************************************************

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[255-003-w001]
[Duration: 19s]

[See Conversation No. 4-30]

[End of telephone conversation]

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Also recorded on June 4, 1971

  • 004-030 2:24 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 2:24 pm to 2:33 pm.
  • 255-002 2:24 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:24 pm and 2:33 pm.
  • 004-031 2:33 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 2:33 pm to 2:34 pm.
  • 255-043 2:33 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:33 pm to 2:34 pm.
  • 004-032 2:34 PM · 22 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 2:34 pm to 2:54 pm.
  • 255-004 2:34 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:34 pm to 2:54 pm.
  • 255-005 2:54 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:54 pm and 3:10 pm.
  • 255-006 2:54 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:54 pm and 3:10 pm.

All 55 conversations from June 4, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 255-003, June 4, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/255-003 (accessed September 27, 2026).