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Conversation 269-008

TapeTape 269StartMonday, August 2, 1971 at 10:46 AMEndMonday, August 2, 1971 at 10:56 PMTape start time01:24:59Tape end time01:30:54ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ehrlichman, John D.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed political strategies regarding school busing, specifically focusing on how to manage Southern congressional chairmen. Ehrlichman planned to coordinate with Harry Dent to ensure these chairmen were briefed on the administration's intention to pursue a constitutional amendment to limit busing. The discussion aimed to leverage these legislative maneuvers for partisan advantage while maintaining control over the administration's public stance on the issue.

School busingConstitutional amendmentHarry DentSouthern politicsLegislative strategy
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 10:46 am to 10:56 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 269-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 269-8

Date: August 2, 1971
Time: 10:46 pm - 10:56 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

     Ehrlichman's call to Harry S. Dent

     Busing
          -Southern chairman
          -Constitutional amendment
          -John N. Mitchell
          -Dent
               -Amendment

          -Unknown chairmen
               -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming call to Dent
                     -Partisan aspect
          -Mitchell
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Well, let's, uh, know if you need to talk to him.
Yeah.
He's blessed at, uh, getting the southern chairman in and telling him what our plan is, like, the good idea.
In other words, that we're going to tell him he can't say it, and we're going to come out with a board amendment and all that.
Just to do that, you know, if you're in an area, you know, if you're in an area, you know, if you're in an area, you know,
That's a problem, but if you just start looking at it, sure.
And I must say, we've got a problem with all of this.
It's not a special issue.
Is that the idiot?
That's why he's going to do it.
If you tell Harry about this, he doesn't have anything to do with it.
In fact, I had a point of time in here where I expected to show that we were going to be honest with you and that the client was going to be something positive.
We decided to make sure that we were going to look at it and then we're going to offer it to the client and expect it to be a penetration.
So...
Getting a little bit of a chance to resolve.
You might get a hearing call back tonight.
They don't hear you, but you know it's something that I want to ask you to do, right?
I want to ask you to do something.
I want to ask you to do something.
I want to ask you to do something.
The rest of you had a nice good afternoon, Mr. Campbell.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
Yeah, you might follow.
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