← 271-005271-007 →

Conversation 271-006

TapeTape 271StartWednesday, August 4, 1971 at 10:25 AMEndWednesday, August 4, 1971 at 10:35 AMTape start time03:41:08Tape end time04:08:41ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Buchanan, Patrick J.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan met to discuss administration strategies regarding contentious issues, specifically school busing and the national economy. Nixon expressed firm opposition to forced busing, suggesting the administration should clarify that Supreme Court rulings on the matter are not mandates. Additionally, they reviewed media coverage of the economy, with Nixon instructing Buchanan to proactively highlight positive economic indicators—such as housing, construction, and retail sales—to counter negative press narratives regarding unemployment statistics.

School busingSupreme CourtEconomic policyMedia relationsUnemployment statisticsPublic relations strategy
AudioNARA Description

On August 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:25 am to 10:35 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 271-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 271-6

Date: August 4, 1971
Time: 10:25 am - 10:35 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Patrick J. Buchanan.

     School busing
         -News summary
               -Ronald L. Ziegler
         -Forthcoming press conference
               -Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW] and Justice Department
                     -Plan
                     -Supreme Court
               -President’s view
                     -Austin case
                     -Supreme court
                     -HEW plan
                     -Supreme Court
                           -Interpretation
               -Austin, Texas
               -Possible answer

     National economy
          -News magazines
                -Hugh S. Sidey
                -Henry A. Kissinger
                -Issues
                      -Vietnam War
                      -Democrats
                            -Hubert H. Humphrey
                      -Vietnam War
                      -Economy
                      -Polls
                      -Summit
          -News media
                -Impact on public
                -Indicators
                      -Unemployment
                            -Paul A. Samuelson
                      -Retail sales
                      -Housing
                      -Construction
                      -Inventory levels
                      -Unemployment
                            -Rate
                            -Youth
                                  -Summer employment
                            -Decline
                            -Compared to early 1960's
                            -Instruction for Buchanan

Buchanan left at 10:35 am.
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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
I've read the news.
One thing of interest is the school buses.
Yesterday, we got a lot of people pressing very hard on the tails, and now we've got the basic answers, and now we can see if we can throw it over to H-E-W or Justice.
Let's give you the basics.
You know, they gave you the tails and the coil and this and that more on yesterday.
But I think we can throw that, just throw that over there.
You haven't got the basics.
Well, the question, obviously, is the basic answers.
Well, the busing thing was a hell of a lot.
It was an awesome choice of people to work on.
The field was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
It was a hell of a lot.
I'm saying it's the day of the bussing.
The bussing is wrong.
The goddamn court is wrong.
Don't you think so?
It is.
But the court is locked in.
Why do we need to see it?
I don't know.
I just think it would be helpful.
It would be helpful.
It would be helpful.
The Supreme Court does not mandate the use of muscle.
No, it doesn't.
Again, it allows the use of muscle.
It allows it, but it's not mandated.
Yeah, yeah.
You know, part of that, Pat, is very interesting.
I'm sure you see the reason that after the economic crisis, as far as the region, I think it's exciting to talk to Henry.
He's very interesting.
They were frustrated.
They had it down on them.
They were frustrated because the war is wound down now.
They said they've got a meeting from Massachusetts.
That's where they're coming from.
So, it's important.
So I think what has happened, what happens now is not only the Democrats decide to do that, but they don't really.
The magazines just say, now, have you noticed how they moved almost totally off the board?
It's gone.
It's gone.
Yeah.
And they moved on to the economy.
Too smart.
It didn't come from that approach.
It's almost realistic.
Economies are not changed by it.
I talked to the boarder and he said, we call on it.
I said, we're not going to call on it.
You see that damn media at night, they say, you know, I'm doing my job, I should not buy things, and they keep watching.
The media's like, don't.
I know.
Every night.
Pour that stuff out so that people can read it.
If you get the statistics all turned around, and they all start going up, that won't happen.
This won't happen.
This won't happen.
This won't happen.
There was a period of spring where we had more of the economy.
There was a point where things were turning around.
A few of the commentators were realistic ones, saying, well, it looks like they may be able to put out an economic issue.
Then they started to leave as soon as they saw these things.
They're frenetic.
They're going into these labor statistics.
And the labor statistics, they're ignoring retail sales.
They're ignoring housing.
They're ignoring construction.
low inventory, which, of course, has .
They'll probably pick up .
That was an aberration, the fact that it was taken before all the kids came out.
But .
So it's still, it's still .
That's what I, that's what most people .
But you see, that's, that shows depth.
It's four points below, four points below the end of the year.
It's down.
And it's going to continue to go.
And there's some people who say it's going to go to seven percent, eight percent.
And in 1961, .
I agree with you.
That's really powerful good news.
When it comes in, just crack it all the time.
Okay.
Thank you.
you
← 271-005271-007 →