← 274-041274-043 →

Conversation 274-042

TapeTape 274StartWednesday, September 8, 1971 at 3:08 PMEndWednesday, September 8, 1971 at 3:26 PMTape start time03:10:38Tape end time03:11:19ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ehrlichman, John D.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to refine the text of the President's upcoming address to Congress regarding economic stabilization. The discussion focused on carefully crafting language regarding the ongoing war to ensure it balanced political sensitivity with the administration's goals for peace. Nixon directed Ehrlichman to test specific phrasing with Henry Kissinger to determine the most effective approach for addressing these high-stakes policy issues.

Economic stabilizationPresidential addressVietnam WarForeign policyWhite House drafting
AudioNARA Description

On September 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 3:26 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 274-042 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 274-42

Date: September 8, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:08 pm and 3:26 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

     President’s address to Congress on economic stabilization, September 9, 1971
          -Draft

     The President's schedule
          -Meeting with Ehrlichman
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I just dropped the call again.
Okay?
Fine.
Okay.
Yeah.
Great.
I talked to Henry about that board policy, and there is a technical...
I said we could change it earlier, right?
Let me suggest this.
Try his language on.
I believe that an American operates through inclusion.
That's what he called it.
Try that out.
If that does not work, then we're going to go something else.
It strikes me that as a result of major issues with the board policy, the board will come and generate more than we thought we had.
So if there's any problem, say that.
But if there is, then we've got to wipe it off.
I believe that's a merit.
It's not worth it to a conclusion.
This is the thing.
Results are the same.
I'm working on the same test.
If we had it now, I believe that America now completes, and I'm going to say it brings to a conclusion.
There are two ways we can do it.
We can get right in the sentence.
If he feels that it's too insensitive to talk about the war at all, then say, as a result of major initiatives to repeal the war in politics, we can look forward with a conscience to a generation of peace.
It may be that that is the best way to do it, rather than what he is, rather than the way the war can go on.
Try that on, okay?
Okay.
I'm just between draft now.
← 274-041274-043 →