← 278-005278-007 →

Conversation 278-006

TapeTape 278StartThursday, September 9, 1971 at 1:33 PMEndThursday, September 9, 1971 at 1:39 PMTape start time00:06:26Tape end time00:09:02ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for shaping public perception regarding welfare reform and national economic competitiveness. Nixon emphasizes the necessity of restructuring the welfare system to prioritize labor over government assistance to avoid societal stagnation. The dialogue reflects a broader political messaging effort to frame the administration's economic policies as proactive and competitive rather than isolationist.

Welfare ReformEconomic PolicyPublic MessagingLabor PolicyPolitical Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On September 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:33 pm to 1:39 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 278-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 278-6

Date: September 9, 1971
Time: 1:33 pm - 1:39 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 8-67]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

My daughter, Krisha, has made an interesting point.
She said, well, you know, Danny, economics is a territory.
And all of a sudden, I was about as interested as you were.
Maybe it worked awfully hard to get those people to put it off their hands.
Yeah, that's it.
They checked in with a hell of a good speech.
That had more interest in mind, you know, like the last night I was in Hawaii.
Let us get rid of the system that makes it more profitable for a man to go on welfare than to go to work.
That would be part of the scenario.
And any work is preferable to welfare.
They have poker chips.
They've got all of this.
We generously passed out the chips, and now it's time to play again.
The team was a response junk, which is not too healthy.
It basically was terribly isolationist.
That's why the latter part of the speech was important.
It was important, but where I said, look, we've got to compete.
But they thought of that.
Yeah, they came over well.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I hate to litter as well.
I can't put it out there very hard.
And in fact, keeping it at 30 minutes is what I do.
I always do that.
But I don't believe in letting a farm implode and dribble out.
I'd rather cut it up and step on it.
give me a call back
← 278-005278-007 →