Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 273 › Conversation 273-054

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Economic policy and Speech rehearsal

Sunday, August 15, 1971 · 7:36 PM–8:55 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation273-054 on Tape 273 (tape position 05:06:46–05:08:19)StartSunday, August 15, 1971 at 7:36 PMEndSunday, August 15, 1971 at 8:55 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 273-054 ↗

AI Summary

President Richard M. Nixon conducted a private rehearsal of his upcoming address to the nation regarding his administration's significant new economic policies. During this practice session, he refined the rhetorical framing of his government's initiatives, emphasizing the necessity of public confidence and individual character in sustaining the American economic system. The rehearsal focused on presenting these sweeping measures as a means to inspire national spirit and restore faith in the country's economic future.

Audio

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Position in tape: 05:06:46 – 05:08:19

part C, 1:02:17

273a.mp3
273b.mp3
273c.mp3

NARA Description

On August 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:36 pm and 8:55 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 273-054 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 273-54

Date: August 15, 1971
Time: Unknown between 7:36 pm and 8:55 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed a speech.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1971, pp. 886-891]

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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We are fortunate to live in a nation with an economic system capable of producing for its people the highest standard of living in the world, a system flexible enough to change its ways dramatically when circumstances call for change, and most important, a system resourceful enough to produce prosperity with freedom and opportunity unmatched in the history of nations.
The purpose of the government actions I have announced tonight are to lay the basis for renewed confidence, to make it possible for us to compete fairly with the rest of the world, and ultimately to build prosperity.
A government with all of its powers is not holding the key to the success of the region.
That key, my fellow Americans, is in your hands.
A nation, like a person, has to have a certain inner drive in order to succeed.
In economic affairs, that inner drive is called a competitive spirit.
Every action I have taken tonight is designed to nurture and stimulate that competitive spirit.
Help us snap out of that self-doubt and self-despairing that stops our energy and erodes our confidence in ourselves.
Whether this nation stays number one in the world's economy or resigns itself to second or third or fourth place, whether we as a nation instill our faith in ourselves or lose that faith, whether we hold fast to the strength that makes peace and freedom possible in this world or lose our grip,
All that depends on your competitive spirit, your sense of personal destiny, your pride in your country and in your song.
We can be certain of this.
As the threat of war recedes, the challenge of peaceful competition in the world increases.
We welcome competition, because America is at her wings, which she has called on to compete.

Also recorded on August 15, 1971

  • 273-046 7:14 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:14 pm to 7:24 pm.
  • 273-047 7:24 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:24 pm and 7:34 pm.
  • 273-048 7:24 PM · 6 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 7:24 pm and 7:34 pm.
  • 273-049 7:34 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:34 pm to 7:36 pm.
  • 273-050 7:36 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:36 pm and 8:55 pm.
  • 273-051 7:36 PM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:36 pm and 8:55 pm.
  • 273-052 7:36 PM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:36 pm and 8:55 pm.
  • 273-053 7:36 PM · 33 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 7:36 pm and 8:55 pm.

All 70 conversations from August 15, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 273-054, August 15, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/273-054 (accessed November 2, 2026).