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Conversation 258-038

TapeTape 258StartWednesday, June 23, 1971 at 2:39 PMEndWednesday, June 23, 1971 at 2:44 PMTape start time00:56:50Tape end time01:00:40ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Hébert, F. EdwardRecording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon met with House Armed Services Committee Chairman F. Edward Hébert to express appreciation for his public support during ongoing legislative negotiations. The discussion focused on managing the political challenges posed by the Senate and the imperative of maintaining the security of sensitive government intelligence sources. Nixon emphasized the necessity of preventing leaks to ensure the administration's leverage in diplomatic and military negotiations.

Legislative relationsHouse Armed Services CommitteeNational securityIntelligence sourcesSenate oppositionPolitical strategy
AudioNARA Description

On June 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and F. Edward Hébert met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:39 pm to 2:44 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 258-038 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 258-38

Date: June 23, 1971
Time: 2:39 pm - 2:44 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with F. Edward Hébert

[See Conversation No. 5-139]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Oh, Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to tell you that I was very grateful in reading the news reports last night, this morning, for your statement on the House Conference, House Conference.
I'm saying that guys like you, we might as well call Mr. Bruce home.
Oh, yeah.
Now, listen, don't leave any secret papers around while he's there.
He's afraid he's going to haul it out.
Incidentally, along that, I do want you to know that I'm most grateful.
And actually, I hope that you can take out some of that.
You know what I mean?
You're all impossible to win with the Senate.
I told Victor to point out that the Senate's only one-half the country.
Yeah.
Can you have good strong men?
Right, right.
Who will be on the other side?
Who will be on the center?
Take care.
Right.
Now, what about the uh, the uh, the uh, the uh, the uh, the uh, the uh, the uh, the uh,
In any event, I'll tell you why this language is so important.
We just need, as I've said several times, we can't hold, and we are in a process now, I can tell you, the time will come when we can't do anything.
We just need to get any kind of a racket out, because if you put yourself in the position of the enemy, the enemies of the area, they're going to get on anything, how they're going to negotiate with you.
Good.
This is heavy on this paper thing.
Hello.
Hello.
Can I get him on the phone?
Selective agent.
So the main thing is we'll, you know, it's supposed to get all far back, but we've gotta protect the security of our sources.
Okay.
Well, fine.
You tell Larry.
We didn't get time to complain about him and not you.
Him and not you.
I hope that they do.
They won't.
All right.
All right.
Oh, that's all right.
That's all right.
We can't set it.
But I'll do that.
I'll do that.
All right.
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