Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 298-042
Date: Thursday, November 11, 1971 at 6:11 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Safire, William L.
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/298-042

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] So, yeah, yeah.
[0:14] Yeah, yeah, I got it, I got it, I already read it.
[0:16] Yeah.
[0:17] No, it's just my, oh, only one other thing, which I asked Colson to get some raw material for you on.
[0:23] Some of the, some of the positive figures on, you know, the retail sales and all that crap, you know, which I've,
[0:30] No, it isn't that.
[0:43] I mean, actually, well, it isn't the internet.
[0:44] I mean, I think some of the positive things about the economy, you know, there are a number of things.
[0:46] I just said, you know, climate change is a moment of freedom.
[0:47] You see, we'll have the uncertainty thing to the extent that Canada is not having it this week, but it will be resolved.
[0:50] But in a Greek economy, there's always uncertainty.
[1:06] These people are just, you know, they're just people that just don't know what's up.
[1:08] The next week, it will be, what about the international situation?
[1:09] Well, we'll have that handled, and then we can come up with a result, and then it'll be something else.
[1:11] But that will all change.
[1:12] This is a temporary ego in the market for us to run around with.
[1:14] But I think if I get a chance, I will put in a little positive stuff like that.
[1:34] I'll get a good solid question about what's going on in the U.S. and what's going on in the U.S. and what's going on in the U.S.
[1:37] You may have some stuff yourself, but I know that he's been developing these figures for other people, and maybe he can assign some of their comments to this people.
[2:02] He's always in fine shape.
[2:03] He's done a very, very good job.
[2:03] And I do refuse to point out that it's an enormous amount of work, but it's helpful to do it this way.
[2:06] You start to wonder, don't you, that you...
[2:07] You can now see why, even a mini press conference, which I, you know, I know you just go in and run, or you're not, well, of course, it'd be the same one, probably not the same thing.
[2:20] It's practicing, but you can see why it takes so much work and staff and so much work to put it all together.
[2:24] You've got to be ready for it, but also you've got to be ready not to just, you know, too many people fill in the garden.
[2:40] I mean, I mean, our own people, they go on programs and all the rest, and they wing too much stuff.
[2:43] They really aren't prepared.
[2:44] Don't you agree?
[2:45] They really aren't prepared.
[2:46] They just don't sit down through the work.
[2:46] They say they go on.
[2:47] They gas around.
[2:47] And they do well about it.
[2:48] Most people don't notice it.
[2:49] I can't wing anything.
[2:49] I've got to be prepared in every man's question.
[2:50] And that's what people expect them to be.
[3:10] So that's why I would rule them out.
[3:11] That's so easy to do.
[3:12] Like on the law department.
[3:12] Yeah, they would.
[3:13] Yeah, because they want me to comment on politics so that I'd get in the ring with the others.
[3:14] So I'm just going to say, no, I'm not going to comment on politics.
[3:16] Well, for what reason should I?
[3:16] You know, except to give them a story.
[3:18] Okay, yeah.
[3:42] Yeah, don't send it over unless you think it's pretty.
[3:46] Because I think it's, I think the general speaking is, well, zero one pretty much.
[4:00] You know, I'll be a little on the economics side, and I do not mean to, the political, they believe me, though I know that you can't be prepared to see.
[4:04] usually prayers about a third or above on political things, like the Rippon Society said, and this and that and the other thing.
[4:21] That's what it's like.
[4:21] The East used to go, well, that's the only stuff I don't need any preparation on.
[4:25] I mean, I need nothing on because I just know what they're going to ask, and they're not going to get any damn answers.
[4:28] And it's best not to answer them.
[4:29] It's not to give them money.
[4:29] So they just hated the idea.
[4:30] They hated the idea of this.
[4:31] They said, well, it doesn't make any sense.
[4:31] They couldn't, they couldn't say, but they were so goddamn mad they all went on this trip and I didn't say anything.
[4:39] On a holiday, you know, on a trip to Chicago.
[4:41] I didn't use the word holiday to speak.
[4:43] Not once.
[4:47] They are expecting it.
[4:51] They want it.
[4:53] You see what I mean?
[4:57] So that they can then have a great business about the political season this year.
[5:07] And they can say, you're using the presidency for this and that.
[5:09] They haven't cracked it either way.
[5:11] So they're just not going to get at it.
[5:12] Okay.
[5:12] That's a fine job.
[5:12] I appreciate that.
[5:12] Thank you.
[5:13] Bye.