Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 270 › Conversation 270-002

Nixon & Connally on National economy and Economic policy

Tuesday, August 3, 1971 · 3:40 PM–3:43 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.Conversation270-002 on Tape 270 (tape position 00:02:14–00:07:17)StartTuesday, August 3, 1971 at 3:40 PMEndTuesday, August 3, 1971 at 3:43 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 270-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally discussed the strategic timing for rolling out upcoming economic policy initiatives while the President prepared for a vacation in San Clemente. The pair deliberated on how to manage external expectations and coordinate administrative messaging involving key advisors like Peter Peterson and George Shultz. They also briefly touched upon Connally's coordination with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns regarding the administration's fiscal goals.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:02:14 – 00:07:17

2:12

270a.mp3

NARA Description

On August 3, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:40 pm to 3:43 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 270-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 270-2

Date: August 3, 1971
Time: 3:40 pm - 3:43 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John B. Connally.

     National economy
          -Proposed administration action
                -Preparation
                     -Peter G. Peterson
                     -George P. Shultz
                     -Timing
                           -President's schedule
                                 -San Clemente, California
                                       -Vacation
                                            -Timing
                                 -Budget decision
          -Arthur F. Burns
                -Meeting with Connally

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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It occurred to me that a good way to put people off and pray a lot longer would be when you tell your people about the things that you need to say to the President when you meet him.
On vacation.
Yeah.
on the 23rd of August, I'd like to have these before me, so that I can say, and if you're telling us, it's for the purpose of the issue, so that I can make my likely decision, and I would like to see it.
But I want to do this because I have a need for budget savings.
And when I have insurance coming off of it, the latter part of September, the 31st of October, I need a week to save.
How's that sound to you?
That way you give them something and know they're working for a big future.
But I need that material now.
That's what I'm going to do.
How'd you do on the diagram today?
Good?
Good.
Good.
OK.
Calm me down a little bit.
Good.
Calm me down a little bit.
Right.
Good.
Right.

Also recorded on August 3, 1971

  • 270-003 3:50 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:50 pm to 3:55 pm.
  • 270-004 3:55 PM · 32 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 3:55 pm and 4:09 pm.
  • 270-005 3:55 PM · 17 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 3:55 pm and 4:09 pm.
  • 270-006 4:09 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:09 pm to 4:10 pm.
  • 270-007 4:11 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:11 pm to 4:12 pm.
  • 270-008 4:12 PM · 1 min — 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 4:12 pm and 4:50 pm.
  • 270-009 4:50 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:50 pm to 4:56 pm.
  • 270-010 4:56 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 4:56 pm and 5:10 pm.

All 45 conversations from August 3, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 270-002, August 3, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/270-002 (accessed November 2, 2026).