Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 282 › Conversation 282-042

Nixon & Mitchell on Political appointments and Information leaks

Wednesday, October 20, 1971 · 6:11 PM–6:17 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.Conversation282-042 on Tape 282 (tape position 02:46:17–02:50:35)StartWednesday, October 20, 1971 at 6:11 PMEndWednesday, October 20, 1971 at 6:17 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 282-042 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss political messaging and strategic communications regarding upcoming remarks, specifically concerning the vetting or qualification of a female appointee. The conversation reflects concerns over potential information leaks and the potential political fallout from public statements. The two agree on the need for caution, ultimately deciding to hold off on addressing certain controversial topics until the following morning.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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John.
Yeah, hi.
One thing that occurred to me, and I'm sure you're going to ask, that's often the first time I've been told, you know, we're going to put a lot of trouble on the ground, and we're told, and so on and so on, and now I'm told, you know, it's all a part of the same thing.
So, well, when you're older, you know, you're going to find a way to do it.
I guess you can handle it.
As a matter of fact, I'm not sure Pearl would slide through it as well as Paul.
Either way, we'll get back to that distinction.
I think my idea is that there's a lot of frightening involved in these words, I think.
Oh, yeah.
I agree.
It's the same on Paul, isn't it?
The boat will get out.
Everything else is leaked out of there.
Now believe me, we're going to leave this out if they don't.
And the 11th and 1st, and I think the 11th and 1st,
And not one qualified, she's the best qualified woman that she's ever qualified to be called Jesus.
That was great.
That was great.
Part of my remarks that I would do in the morning in the huge sapphire is to attack this writer.
And I don't want to say anything.
That's how I feel about it.
Oh, hell, I'm not going to talk tonight.
Oh, Christ, that's my point of belief.
That's why I'm here in the morning.
at the airport.
Yeah, okay, I'll call you back.
Bye.

NARA Description

On October 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:11 pm and 6:17 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 282-042 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 282-42

Date: October 20, 1971
Time: 6:17 pm - 6:21 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John N. Mitchell.

[See Conversation No. 12-25]

Also recorded on October 20, 1971

  • 012-022 6:09 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:09 pm and 6:10 pm.
  • 282-037 6:09 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:09 pm to 6:10 pm.
  • 012-023 6:10 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 6:10 pm to 6:11 pm.
  • 282-038 6:10 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 6:10 pm.
  • 282-039 6:10 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:10 pm to 6:11 pm.
  • 012-024 6:11 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:11 pm and 6:17 pm.
  • 282-040 6:11 PM · 59 sec — 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 6:11 pm and 6:17 pm.
  • 282-041 6:11 PM · 8 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 6:11 pm and 6:17 pm.

All 83 conversations from October 20, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 282-042, October 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/282-042 (accessed September 28, 2026).