Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 281 › Conversation 281-019

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Supreme Court nominations and Lewis Powell

Thursday, October 21, 1971 · 10:30 AM–10:51 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 9 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation281-019 on Tape 281 (tape position 01:27:21–01:36:48)StartThursday, October 21, 1971 at 10:30 AMEndThursday, October 21, 1971 at 10:51 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 281-019 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon held this meeting to deliberate on and rehearse the rhetoric for an upcoming public speech regarding judicial appointments. The discussion centers on the selection of conservative candidates for the Supreme Court, specifically mentioning Lewis Powell, and the necessity of balancing societal rights with constitutional frameworks. Nixon focuses on ensuring his nominees possess the judicial philosophy and character required to uphold the integrity of the government.

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Position in tape: 01:27:21 – 01:36:48

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
For the court, believe as I do, involving this delicate balance between the rights of society and the rights of defendants of human crime, the peace forces must be strengthened against criminal forces.
As great constitutional lawyers are,
They are dedicated to the proposition due to the lawyer's most precious principle, that the right of innocent men must always receive the fullest protection of the law and of the Constitution.
It is with these criteria in mind that I have selected the two men whose names I will send to the Senate tomorrow.
Mr. Louis Powell, who is from Virginia.
The man who is probably America's greatest Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Marshall, but like another Virginia, Chief Justice, the great Chief Justice Marshall, Louis Powell, is recognized by his colleagues at the very high accession lines in the bar.
who represents not just the thinking of Virginia, but the thinking of the South.
Right?
That he is first and foremost a great American.
And then put in certain developments to come in with more, you know, make more decisions.
Insert the second man.
And then conclusion.
Black.
Constitutional lawyers.
In America.
For black men.
To the court.
and excellence in the highest degree to this great judicial body.
I am asking the Senate to approve the nomination's profit so that the court can move forward on the backlog of building up of those two vacancies which occurred in this movement.
I know it's a great stress that they continue to penetrate through.
the Supreme Court as an institution.
We recognize that every individual has a right to disagree with the decisions of a court.
After those decisions are handed down, after those decisions are handed down, it is our obligation to obey all, whether we like it or not.
And it is our duty as citizens to respect the institution of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Whether you agree or disagree with the views of members of that court, let us always hold in highest respect the greatest tradition of our
The last resort in the entire world is to pray and meditate.
I think after I say this, our obligation is to obey the law.
Insert before the last resort in the entire world.
Now insert after I say this, our obligation is to obey the law.
I think it's our duty to respect that.
over the years about the Supreme Court and some of those debates that even ended up in our conference.
Never forget that respect for the court and all of the
of the final interpretation of what is the supreme law of the land.
The law of the land.
America is the Shabbat.
It is my conviction.
They will add to the respect of the court in the country throughout the nation.
Except for the contribution he may be able to make to world peace, there is probably no more important legacy the President can believe in these times.
He was appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
He kept his burger, he got his flag.
By their conduct and their decision, I render respect not only to those who supported at the time I nominated them, but also to those who proposed them or were looking for them in their mind.
The two men I'm sending to you, whose names I'm sending to, will be sending tomorrow.
Trust me, the two men whose names
It is my perfect affection to the man whose name I am sending to you tonight and tomorrow.
The same is done to you proudly as they work diligently on behalf of the goal of their
For the right, uh, and responsibility.
Death.
For unsolution.
For the law, order, and justice throughout the life.
End of take.

NARA Description

On October 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:51 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 281-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 281-19

Date: October 21, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:30 am and 10:51 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed a speech.

[A transcript of the final broadcast of this speech appears in Public Papers of the Presidents,
Richard M. Nixon, 1971, pp. 1053-1057]

Also recorded on October 21, 1971

  • 281-014 10:30 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-015 10:30 AM · 57 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-016 10:30 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-017 10:30 AM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-018 10:30 AM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-020 10:30 AM · 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 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-021 10:30 AM · 7 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 10:30 am and 10:51 am.
  • 281-022 10:30 AM · 7 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 10:30 am and 10:51 am.

All 107 conversations from October 21, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 281-019, October 21, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/281-019 (accessed October 12, 2026).