Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 292 › Conversation 292-009

Nixon & Mitchell on Recruitment and Political appointments

Tuesday, October 19, 1971 · 3:00 PM–3:05 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.Conversation292-009 on Tape 292 (tape position 00:12:00–00:17:18)StartTuesday, October 19, 1971 at 3:00 PMEndTuesday, October 19, 1971 at 3:05 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 292-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss strategies for recruiting a high-level candidate for a prestigious appointment, emphasizing the need to appeal to the individual's sense of duty to the country. They evaluate potential candidates, specifically dismissing Howard Baker due to concerns over his legal practice and political vulnerability in the Senate. Ultimately, Nixon instructs Mitchell to handle the outreach independently to maintain distance from the White House staff and ensure the recruitment process remains confidential.

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Position in tape: 00:12:00 – 00:17:18

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Okay, all right.
He had checked out of the hotel and left no numbered calls.
I just called him just now.
Now, what do you think we should do to call for it?
I have a feeling that it might still be an open question.
You know, the way I look at it is that if I just say, look, you're a conscientious man and all the rest, but right now your country needs you.
I'd like you to take this and assume that you can do it any time you can't do it.
Why don't you come to me and we'll work it out.
I'd say two years of power over 20 or somebody else, and that's a damn truth.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You put it out to me for a prestigious appointment, that sort of thing.
Is that what you're saying?
Yeah.
Yeah.
He agrees with all that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, the Baker one, I just want you to really press him down.
Because the more I think about it, with that law practice, I don't think we ought to run that by a fellow like Baker.
They just aren't going to crucify another senator around there.
There's a point, too.
I mean, even by our own FBI and all that, because, you know, the minute that doesn't get out, we all know Harold Baker's background, and if he's no crook or anything of that sort, frankly, the Senate wouldn't dare put him out if he were.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's my point.
That's my point.
He is highly incidental.
It has occurred to me that one fault that very much of Baker's supporters on other things has been Brooke.
Do you remember the campaign taker who got broke a couple of days ago?
I think it was Baker.
Well, now that isn't going to hurt.
So I just have a feeling this guy is intelligent, has a strong mind, and I must say, you know, quite as sure as he could be.
But you know that on most stuff he's going to be good.
You just can't expect him to be 100%.
Did he sound all right?
have you ever tried the moment of may not on say a following like early i guess you just don't know what it is are we are we too concerned about this mediocre business
I've just been thinking of other things I'm going to put at the top, but if it doesn't go, then I might just put one of them all at the top.
Yeah.
After all, he's the dean of a law school.
Yeah.
Good.
That's the way to do it.
They tell them the highest of confidence, in case of the, the way they call it, these kind of problems, that I lean strongly towards for reasons that are, that have to do with boredom.
I like the lean thing.
I like the fact that it's the number one law school.
Goddamn it, I didn't go to a number one law school job.
Now, to where do you go?
Do you go to Harvard?
No.
Yeah.
Well, Mike, the whole point of this number one law school bullshit is getting me down a little, isn't it, you?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well... Well, sure, look, you've seen a lot of hired men around there soft on the head.
And, uh, they don't work as hard.
But, uh, now, this board of men may be all right.
I've seen some pretty good board of graduates, haven't you?
And let me tell you, if you take on the dean of board, they're taking on the Notre Dame dean and a hell of a lot of other Santa Clara, huh?
Loyola.
Frank.
But I mean, they can all cancel the dean.
But would you run that by the end of the day?
And I don't want him to bring it to me, because I don't like this business of my being locked with the staff on things.
But just say, you are checking yourself.
See, will you do that?
That's better.
And say that this, and put it on purpose.
He's raising money.
Would you do that?

NARA Description

On October 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:00 pm to 3:05 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 292-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 292-9

Date: October 19, 1971
Time: 3:00 pm - 3:05 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John N. Mitchell.

[See Conversation No. 11-138]

Also recorded on October 19, 1971

  • 292-001 1:45 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:45 pm and 2:53 pm.
  • 292-002 1:45 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:45 pm and 2:53 pm.
  • 292-006 2:53 PM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 2:53 pm.
  • 292-007 2:53 PM · 22 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 2:53 pm and 3:00 pm.
  • 292-008 2:53 PM · 3 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 2:53 pm and 3:00 pm.
  • 011-138 3:00 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 3:00 pm to 3:05 pm.
  • 292-010 3:05 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:05 pm.
  • 292-011 3:05 PM · 1 hr 58 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, George P. Shultz, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:05 pm to 5:05 pm.

All 93 conversations from October 19, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 292-009, October 19, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/292-009 (accessed September 28, 2026).