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Conversation 282-018

TapeTape 282StartWednesday, October 20, 1971 at 3:43 PMEndWednesday, October 20, 1971 at 4:05 PMTape start time01:08:21Tape end time01:11:49ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ehrlichman, John D.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed political strategies regarding the issue of school busing, evaluating the potential for a constitutional amendment to leverage political advantage against rivals like Edward Kennedy, Edmund Muskie, and Henry Jackson. Nixon emphasized the importance of aligning with the powerful education lobby and explored linking busing to broader education policies, including aid to parochial schools. The pair aimed to capitalize on the busing controversy as a significant electoral issue by appealing to specific interest groups.

BusingConstitutional AmendmentEducation PolicyElectoral StrategySpecial Interest GroupsParochial Schools
AudioNARA Description

On October 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:43 pm to 4:05 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 282-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 282-18
Date: October 20, 1971
Time: 3:43 pm - 4:05 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

     Busing issue
          -The President's conversation with Sam J. Ervin, Jr.
                -Legislative proposal
          -Constitutional amendment
          -Edward M. Kennedy
          -Edmund S. Muskie
          -Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson
          -Previous discussion
          -Education
                -Parochial schools
                -William F. (“Billy”) Graham
                -Earl Warren
                      -Education lobby
                      -Revenue sharing
                           -Special interests
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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 wonder what progress you're making on the busing, the busing issue.
I've talked to, you know, Sam Irvin, the legislature, but we may just have to go with the constitutional amendment and the final analysis might even do it, but I'm convinced, based on what I've seen, that it's
real sleeper as far as I'm concerned.
Well, good.
Well, we've got kids.
It's not a bad issue for us now because we've got Teddy on the other side.
We've got Muskie on the other side.
And Jackson, even.
All right.
You well understand.
All right.
Now, of course, you did mention in the last of our conversations yesterday that we might be even part of the total package on the other side.
What do you mean?
The way you care for Europe.
You're enduring, I'm sure.
Consider the Muslim issue itself enduring.
Isn't that, in handling it that way, I'm sure.
that broke his school and gave his handle as part of a larger education that I think is the way to get by the Billy Graham group of students.
Yeah.
Right.
Is it?
The other point that occurred to me, John, which I think is, you know, you talk about law, and Odor Oren once told me many years ago, and it's pretty much the same, in terms of the election,
to the strongest lobby of the country.
We get this, I mean, if we go for this, that really ought to get them ring a bell with amputations.
And so we could really be one of the few times when we thought first we'd get something even more important.
Reverend Sherry helped us with a certain kind of people, but it didn't really help with, it helped with basically special interest people, mayors, mayors, but I was thinking that the education would be a very great, okay, bye.
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