Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 298-003
Date: Thursday, November 11, 1971 at 11:24 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/298-003

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:04] John, what I want on that agriculture thing is not to... We, of course, are building it.
[0:21] The story is what...
[0:22] It could be 30 pages, but I just need about a sentence.
[0:24] Or something that just, so that I don't, so that I don't, I just don't want to take away from the fact that Harden is leading in my praise for him and Butz is.
[0:40] Otherwise, these bastards will make play that, which is a double-sided, to the average person, except for a few hard-perceived.
[0:44] Yeah.
[0:45] You see what I've got here?
[0:45] Now, on the other hand, on the other hand, for the purpose of this, if you're almost or something without something, you see what I mean?
[0:52] Great.
[0:54] Yeah.
[1:08] Pointing out that this is a matter that we have in consideration.
[1:10] We just didn't find it fitting for the organization.
[1:11] Maybe that's the way to do it.
[1:12] And dealing not only with agriculture, but also that there's some problems here that simply didn't fit into the other departments.
[1:15] That's another way of putting it.
[1:16] I think you can say that, perhaps.
[1:17] They said, hey, they see these problems, so let's don't have Volpe come in and say that.
[1:37] And they grabbed and cramped it up.
[1:39] The whole thing unraveled.
[1:39] Labor.
[1:40] Taking the Forest Service and all that sort of thing.
[1:41] Do damn right.
[1:41] And also, they'll get some of these others on the same thing.
[1:44] I mean, it's an enemy.
[1:45] It's the Coast Guard under Volpe.
[1:47] Now, why in the name of God is another vocal kind of answer?
[1:56] It isn't.
[1:56] It isn't.
[1:56] I know, I know.
[1:57] But why isn't that a treasure then?
[2:05] It's a treasure.
[2:08] To make something bad.
[2:09] But, you know, isn't it ridiculous to have the Coast Guard under full heat?
[2:21] I mean, I think, frankly, the Coast Guard should not even be in there.
[2:24] I think it should be in defense.
[2:26] All right.
[2:28] Well, on our reorganization, are we doing that?
[2:29] Great, great, great.
[2:30] Oh, hell, we don't want to be in defense.
[2:31] We've got the flags in there and so forth.
[2:36] Good, good, good, good.
[2:37] Well, I think Russell would be all right.
[2:45] He said, hey, he said, how do you see the fire?
[2:47] I remember it.
[2:48] It's just like I remember it.
[2:48] It looks a little older.
[2:49] But naturally, that's one of the problems.
[2:50] Most farmers are older, I guess.
[2:54] Yeah.
[2:56] Well, I'll tell you, it's perfectly all right.
[3:04] If they play up for the Congress, I don't like it.
[3:06] The Congress is very nice and sorry to me.
[3:08] But we'll do it for their, gentlemen, I'll do it for the Reader's Digestment, the Hellwood Prime Ministry.
[3:11] Okay?
[3:11] And playboy.