On July 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:17 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 267-013 of the White House Tapes.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
I thought, I was thinking that, you know, when you were talking to John, I think that you might say that I'm pretty deep in trouble with the fact that I feel that, you know, I've been stuck in too much on, you know, everything from welfare to
the environment.
I know, I know the political, you know what I mean, I know some of that, but I really feel that we've got to put some sharp signs in on this, and that's why so much of our writing comes in to be some goddamn jury, you know what I mean?
It's all the, you know, crowding around about this or that, about things that I don't feel decent people.
I just can't, I just can't, I just can't say these things publicly, you know what I mean?
And, you know,
We've got to get some sharp edges on this gun.
It's got to be set now.
I'm not doing anything.
I'm saying, Chuck, I do, of course, speak sharply to the board.
I know what the hell I'm talking about.
I don't know what he's running.
And I do, I think, of course, my client, the overhead, has to do well.
But when we got into this business, believe me, the environment, the consumer, and the rest, and welfare, I mean, they're getting me into positions where I just don't feel about them.
They're comfortable with me.
They're an old man, right?
They're on it now.
They can't think about it.
But I just want to be grateful to them.
They've got to have the first man, third, more, and more of those clients here and all that.
And I can tell you, I just think it's a...
I feel, I really feel the need to get into my own speech right now.
Not only in the position to do what I say, but part of the sense of conviction and so forth.
You see, particularly as you approach a campaign, you just can't beat around the mouth in things that are just crap.
You know, that you know, well, we've got to do this for the other guy's sake, and so forth.
Do you understand?
Now that's one of the reasons why I hope you got my hand.
I wonder if you know what happened on that.
I don't know if you get the answer, but my hand is falling first now.
Here's a guy that writes like I believe he should.
And I must say that out of the right shot, I can't punch that.
You know, we've just done that hard.
And it's not their fault, really, because basically they're all liberals.
And actually, they are reflecting the kind of stuff we have in our programs.
A lot of it is liberal malarkey.
I don't know that.
We can't go as far as that.
In fact, I do want to, but I need to be a goddamn sharp person for all of you.
And, uh...
I've had a good hard time talking to the whole staff and stuff, and that's like, you know, I haven't had much of a session when I'm out here.
I don't like the welfare program.
I don't like that they have the regular share of time.
So, you know, this traffic is not in any of these cities.
It's not there.
But, I mean, despite what they all say, the poll is good to know.
I mean, that's good to know.
Or, you know, for anything, it gives a way to, you know, tell them, you know, what else they can stand for.
And I think it's really, really good.
And I must say, I don't like getting mad at you, but it's hard to let me know just how hard you are.
But, uh, we will do it.
There's nothing I can say.
Thank you.