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Conversation 269-005

TapeTape 269StartMonday, August 2, 1971 at 9:56 PMEndMonday, August 2, 1971 at 10:02 PMTape start time00:42:43Tape end time01:24:36ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ehrlichman, John D.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the growing political pressure surrounding school busing, specifically concerns relayed by Harry Dent regarding the dissatisfaction of various state party chairmen. They debated potential legal and administrative strategies, weighing the partisan implications of the administration's stance. The President instructed Ehrlichman to contact Dent to address these concerns and coordinate a response to the ongoing controversy.

BusingHarry S. DentPartisan politicsSchool integrationAdministrative policy
AudioNARA Description

On August 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:56 pm to 10:02 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 269-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 269-5

Date: August 2, 1971
Time: 9:56 pm - 10:02 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

     Busing
          -President's call from Harry S. Dent
                -Conversation with Edward L. Morgan
                      -Forthcoming White House statement
                -Texas and Mississippi chairmen
          -James L. Buckley [?]
                -Austin case
                      -Possible appeal
          -National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP]
          -Marvin Gardens
          -John N. Mitchell
          -George P. Shultz
          -Clark MacGregor
          -Possible cause of action
          -Ehrlichman's forthcoming call to Dent
          -Partisan aspects
                -Elliot L. Richardson
                -Mitchell
          -Plan
          -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming call to Dent
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

So, I just had a call from Harry Dennett, and he said he had a long talk with Marshal, and he's really quite emotional about this thing tomorrow.
He said that he was just both the Texas chairman and the required review of the Mississippi chairman, and he said that there were some three or four other things that were kind of working for the chairman, and he was joined by President Reagan of the administration to talk about a deal down there.
I don't know whether there's
I saw I said, I'm sure, I'm sure, I'm sure, I'm sure.
But it certainly is a problem.
Well, I don't know.
Maybe at times it's a little demagogic to have one of our own.
We're going to repeat on something else.
Well, frankly, I'm not comfortable with any fussing.
I guess there's no way to be responsible without being responsible.
Why don't you call him and hold his hand?
He's got a hell of a problem there.
Well, there's no way to be able to contend with it.
It's just a question of, you know, doing, taking the, taking the, you know, lesser of two.
No, I didn't.
I didn't talk to him.
No, I didn't.
Well, I want you to talk to him.
Well, they'll be down here at that time.
Well, I guess if there's a problem with John, I guess it's what happened.
All the people in this field become so enmeshed with him that they become out of parties of necromancy.
You know, Eliot mentioned the March of 1941, when someone was getting John done.
On the other hand, there was the devil of the evidence.
I just don't know if there's any answer to what you're saying.
with this plan.
Robert, you give Harry a call and give me a call back later.
Fine.
Do your best.
Yeah?
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