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Conversation 292-020

TapeTape 292StartTuesday, October 19, 1971 at 5:43 PMEndTuesday, October 19, 1971 at 5:49 PMTape start time02:31:35Tape end time02:32:17ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operatorRecording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon consults with the White House operator regarding the professional background and qualifications of a potential judicial or administrative appointee. The discussion centers on the candidate’s legal experience, age, and professional standing in comparison to another individual named Smith. Nixon expresses concern over the candidate's stature, ultimately deciding on a strategy to handle the individual if he initiates further contact.

Presidential appointmentsLegal qualificationsPersonnel vettingExecutive decision-making
AudioNARA Description

On October 19, 1971, 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 5:43 pm and 5:49 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 292-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 292-20

Date: October 19, 1971
Time: Unknown between 5:43 pm and 5:49 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 11-145; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Sure.
Sure.
What are his, uh, you know, what are his, what are his qualifications?
He's an assistant attorney general, right?
I understand that, by the way.
How about the qualifications then?
What's the practice law?
Where is he from?
There we go.
You go to law school there.
Say hello, Unable God.
What's your name?
How long have you been practicing law?
Then he came to the government with us.
He was probably more than that.
He was probably more of a 14-year-old, 34-year-old, 35-year-old, 38-year-old, four-year-old, maybe even 40.
In a sense, if you went for him, you might as well go for Smith.
They both have sort of the same, have all sorts of distinct, you know, probably a bigger name.
And I do, I mean, I don't know where they're from, but, you know, I think it would, they're sort of then conscious of, you know, into a big firm, into a big city, you know, like that.
That's right.
Well, I was just the other person there, and I'm still all around our Irish crew.
Every play we make a little gap, but it's good.
Good, good, good.
Well, in case he calls you, if he doesn't call you, how are Dan going to do this now?
He just doesn't do it.
He won't take no for an answer.
Perfect.
Sure.
Okay.
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