Nixon White House TapesTape 320 › Conversation 320-024

Nixon & Ruth on Birthday and Economic Policy

Tuesday, February 8, 1972 · 2:54 PM–2:56 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ruth, Earl B.Conversation320-024 onTape 320 (tape position 00:46:07–00:47:26)StartTuesday, February 8, 1972 at 2:54 PMEndTuesday, February 8, 1972 at 2:56 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 320-024 ↗

President Nixon met with Representative Earl B. Ruth for a brief courtesy call to offer birthday wishes and acknowledge their ongoing political alliance. The discussion touched upon the administration's economic policy, specifically addressing concerns regarding federal budget deficits and the broader objective of reducing unemployment. Nixon reassured Ruth of his commitment to pursuing a balanced budget while managing state-specific economic performance.

Download MP3 · 2.6 MB

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) ·JSON data · Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.

So, you know, I haven't got anything important, except to say, Tim was telling me you had a birthday yesterday, and I didn't want to miss my old Tar Heel friend.
I didn't realize you were such an old fella.
If you keep going, you're gonna catch up with me before too long.
I'm only three years ahead of you.
Have a good day.
If you have a good party, I hope.
Great.
Great.
Well, we appreciate your good support.
Fine.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I understand.
I understand.
You know how I feel.
I hate deficits as much as you do, but the main thing we're trying to do, Earl, is, of course, North Carolina is fortunately doing better on the employment side than some other states, but the main thing, we're just trying to get that stand on employment down, and this is one thing that, you know, the experts tell us to do.
Believe me, you're going to see a balanced budget for a lot in this office.
Okay.
Thanks, Earl.

On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Earl B. Ruth met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:54 pm to 2:56 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 320-024 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 320-24

Date: February 8, 1972
Time: 2:54 pm - 2:56 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Earl B. Ruth.

[See also Conversation No. 20-66]
  • 020-064 2:51 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 020-065 2:51 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-020 2:51 PM · 12 sec — 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 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-021 2:51 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-022 2:51 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 320-023 2:51 PM · 17 sec — 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 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 020-066 2:54 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Earl B. Ruth talked on the telephone from 2:54 pm to 2:56 pm.
  • 020-067 2:57 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Robert H. Finch talked on the telephone from 2:57 pm to 3:01 pm.

Conversation 320-024, February 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/320-024 (accessed September 18, 2026).