Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 330 › Conversation 330-004

Nixon & Andrews on Education policy and Speechwriting

Wednesday, April 5, 1972 · 9:00 AM–9:10 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 9 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Andrews, John K., Jr.Conversation330-004 on Tape 330 (tape position 00:02:59–00:12:23)StartWednesday, April 5, 1972 at 9:00 AMEndWednesday, April 5, 1972 at 9:10 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 330-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with speechwriter John K. Andrews, Jr. to refine a draft of a major speech on education policy. The discussion focused on balancing the President's commitment to non-public school assistance and neighborhood schools against the reality of severe constitutional and legislative constraints. Nixon directed Andrews to revise the text to emphasize the administration's sincere commitment to these issues while avoiding the creation of false expectations regarding immediate solutions.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:02:59 – 00:12:23

part A, 3:05

330a.mp3
330b.mp3
330c.mp3

NARA Description

On April 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:00 am to 9:10 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 330-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 330-4

Date: April 5, 1972
Time: 9:00 am - 9:10 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with John K. Andrews, Jr.

       Greetings

Speech on education
     -Draft
           -Revisions
                 -Cuts
           -Limited education funds
                 -Change in text
           -Busing
           -Additions
           -Education
                 -Busing
                 -Neighborhood schools
           -Cuts in text
     -Busing
           -Additions to text
     -Constitutional problems to busing
           -State legislatures
                 -Non-public schools
     -Congressional action
           -Problems
                 -Tax cuts
     -The President's solution to problems
           -False hopes
           -Statement
                 -Place in speech
     -Non-public schools
           -Assistance
           -Wording
                 -Changes
           -The President's commitment
                 -False hopes
                 -Solutions
           -Constitutional problems
     -Text of speech
           -Additions
                 -Partisan issue
                 -Religious issue
           -Changes by Andrews

                        -John D. Ehrlichman's advice
             -Another meeting on speech
                  -Time
                  -Final copy

Andrews left at 9:10 am.

Transcript (AI-generated)

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.

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

Well, I think this is
a lot of good style now.
The point that you might sharpen up a little in terms of the wine, and you've just thought it very well already, that's something that we have limited funds for education.
We should put those funds in better institutions rather than
This is what I'm getting at.
We covered here.
I
It might sharpen it up and put it in a sentence.
We have a good response.
We have a good response to a better education.
And it's more clear that they're at an education in various schools, rather than at the moment.
The more investment the children are with in the neighborhood schools, they get it on the school line, too.
I have a thought here where we can probably sharpen up just a little.
As you know, Greece would be into their delivery.
Buzzing here, you don't want to get tied down.
This is a proposal that has to go to the White House.
and it's been a well-handling thing in trying to avoid that kind of system.
Now, it may be that doing your page 70, a couple of thoughts might be worked out.
It might put him high up on there.
It's something to be effective.
And, uh...
and so forth.
But as everyone who has studied this problem knows, there are very great constitutional questions.
There are very serious constitutional questions arising from state legislatures or the federal government trying to provide aid to non-public schools.
There is also the problem of getting action from the Congress
I didn't want any tax money in the military.
I did not raise any money.
I didn't have any excuse for damage.
But I did have a practical problem with this.
And then go into the business of your studies, for example.
I... And then say, I... You should know my commitment to the solution.
But I did not come here to make you work this around.
I am not...
I am not...
I'm not going to make promises that I can't keep.
I'm not going to create hopes, uh, where it might be damaged or dissipated, uh, among people, dedicated people who so desperately need hope this time.
But I, uh, I made that become part of the last of it, but, but, but, but this,
And this I will say, that I am committed to these, that I am committed to these propositions.
America needs non-public schools, security.
Non-public schools need help, security.
We must find ways to provide that help, and then go on into the other things.
I think that's something we've done here, and I'm sure you've been committed to the preservation of non-public schools in America.
I'm just suggesting all of these, all of this, as a way to take that page and play around with it and see if we can get something that's a little more bitey.
put across more strongly.
Basically, to put in the commitment, and also to be put in first, if I say one, it's a very difficult problem, and I know that I'm not doing any crack, you know, to the effect that I can solve it.
I'm not promising something I can't do.
But I will tell you what I can, what I will do.
I will tell you what I can, and I am ready for a solution.
And you say, I, uh, we, uh, uh,
Maybe you could do that.
Or you could say, yeah, you've gone through that stuff on page six and up and page nine and so forth.
And then you're in action.
And I am not going to make any comments, but I do make, I do make this comment.
Go on with it.
Forget those lines.
And it may be that you're staring already with this, the way I've been, something in the bottom of this table, a little better.
Why don't you just take the whole thing
Take those thoughts and see if there's a line that should go in.
And this election year, let us recognize that this is not an issue.
An issue divided by party.
Any more than an issue divided by religion.
Occasionally.
Workshops as well.
I think those are the only thoughts that I have, but it's all shaping up into good form, I think.
I just want you to take it off and take plenty of time.
I don't want to work it over.
I have something.
It's fine.
Are you ready?

Also recorded on April 5, 1972

  • 330-001 8:33 AM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:33 am and 8:45 am.
  • 330-002 8:33 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:33 am and 8:45 am.
  • 022-078 8:45 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:45 am.
  • 330-003 8:45 AM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 8:45 am.
  • 330-005 9:10 AM · 1 min — 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 9:10 am and 9:16 am.
  • 330-006 9:10 AM · 53 sec — 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 9:10 am and 9:16 am.
  • 022-079 9:16 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 9:27 am.
  • 330-007 9:16 AM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:16 am to 9:55 am.

All 44 conversations from April 5, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 330-004, April 5, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/330-004 (accessed November 15, 2026).