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Conversation 031-052

TapeTape 31StartMonday, October 16, 1972 at 10:47 AMEndMonday, October 16, 1972 at 10:48 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Goldwater, Barry M.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Senator Barry Goldwater discuss Goldwater's upcoming meeting with George Wallace, with the President requesting that he convey his personal well-wishes and offers of medical assistance to the wounded governor. The conversation shifts to the 1972 campaign, where they critique media allegations of Republican 'dirty tricks' as a non-issue outside of Washington. Goldwater proposes a strategy of using 'reverse English' by suggesting that Democratic operatives were responsible for the political mischief, to which Nixon encourages him to continue his aggressive campaign rhetoric.

1972 Presidential ElectionGeorge C. WallacePolitical StrategyCampaign AllegationsDirty TricksBarry Goldwater
AudioNARA Description

On October 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Barry M. Goldwater talked on the telephone from 10:47 am to 10:48 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 031-052 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 31-52

Date: October 16, 1972
Time: 10:47 am - 10:48 am
Location: White House Telephone

Barry M. Goldwater talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 799-16]

        Goldwater's schedule
            -Forthcoming meeting with George C. Wallace
                -Wallace
                     -The President’s message
                     -Injuries
                     -Medical aid

        1972 campaign
            -Republican campaign practices
                -Press allegations
                -Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign
                -Reversal of allegations
                    -Democratic campaign practices

                                        (rev. Oct-06)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Mr. President.
Hello.
Mr. President.
Yeah.
Mr. Goldwater.
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
Are you in Alabama?
Yes, sir, I am.
Well, give him all my best down there, and I hope that you call the governor when you're there.
I'm having breakfast with him tomorrow, Mr. President.
Great.
Well, would you give him my warmest regards and tell him, as I've often said, that I feel that I consider him as the same person
as I consider anybody who's been wounded in battle, and that we're going to get exactly the same treatment.
You see, you know, we've got VA facilities, and that if he ever has anything he wants, he has only the phone to pick up and call me.
Oh, fair play to him.
Right.
In the meantime, I want to tell you, we appreciate the way you're slamming these people a bit, you know.
What do you think of all this hocus-pocus about the dirty tricks and the rest?
God, you know, you hit it well.
Look what they did to you in the campaign.
Well, the thing about it, Mr. President, it is no issue any place in this country except in Washington.
It's a very weak one there.
I was thinking of cooking up a little reverse English on them by having somebody confess that it was a Democratic bloc.
Okay.
Okay.
Well, give them hell.
We will, Mr. President.
Thanks.
Many thanks.
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