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Conversation 293-017

TapeTape 293StartWednesday, November 17, 1971 at 5:25 PMEndWednesday, November 17, 1971 at 5:44 PMTape start time01:21:01Tape end time01:22:21ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon consults with an aide regarding his upcoming address to the AFL-CIO convention to ensure his economic messaging is accurate. He specifically requests research data comparing wage and price increases between 1965 and 1969 to support his argument that labor gains were consistently offset by inflation during that period. The President instructs staff to expedite this research, mentioning speechwriter William Safire, to solidify the economic narrative for his presentation.

AFL-CIOWages and PricesEconomic PolicySpeechwritingWilliam Safire
AudioNARA Description

On November 17, 1971, 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 5:25 pm and 5:44 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 293-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 293-17

Date: November 17, 1971
Time: Unknown between 5:25 pm and 5:44 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

     Presidential appearances before American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
           Organizations [AFL-CIO] conventions

     The President's forthcoming speech to AFL-CIO convention
          -Wages and prices, 1965-1969
          -William L. Safire
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Isn't that amazing that nobody would have, I should have that in two minutes, maybe it was going to be a half a minute.
All right, go down and just get it for me by tonight, okay?
Maybe they put a research team to work on it.
All right.
The other is, I think there's something I am doing that I want to accurately present.
No, that's the one.
When did he, what did you say, which year?
That's right.
Well, another way to get at that is to say that from 1965 to 1969, there was no
There were wage increases.
I don't just say we're coming in late.
Don't try to break it down.
Wage increases were entirely number of price increases.
Give me that general thing that I can use, whatever it is.
65 to 69, I don't agree to.
They don't have to do these things.
You can take it from me, man.
This is mine.
Find out 65 to 69.
Wages went up.
Don't tell me how much.
Just say what it went up, but they were always number of prices.
Sapphire, but I don't know if this is your research, but get that for me.
I have that on the phone.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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