Nixon, Haldeman & Colson on George Wallace and Assassination attempt

1:42:37Bob, is there?
1:42:41I'm going to call in Peter Lawson or somebody who did something to the effect that the first report of the interrogation indicated that a Beller, a Kennedy person did what he did.
1:43:03Everything's going to, rumors are going to flow all over the place.
1:43:06Put it on the left right away.
1:43:07Can you do that?
1:43:10Who can you put it to and how can it get out?
1:43:14Okay.
1:43:15Must get out fast before they pin this on the right wing.
1:43:22Yeah.
1:43:24What do you have?
1:43:26Chuck?
1:43:30Chuck?
1:43:38But he's the one to do it.
1:43:48Lukacs says he's still in surgery.
1:43:52But one bullet.
1:43:55That's the problem.
1:43:56It went through both walls of his stomach.
1:44:02I think it fell back.
1:44:04No, I'm sorry.
1:44:05One ball went through both balls of the stomach, brushed by the kidney, hit no other vital organs.
1:44:10Liver is okay, you're right.
1:44:11It's not hurt his liver.
1:44:13It's lies close to the spinal cord.
1:44:16They can't, they don't have it yet.
1:44:18The x-ray shows it's close to the spinal cord, not in a vital area, according to the x-ray.
1:44:24He can't feel any pain from the spine down.
1:44:27The root care says you can't assume anything of that.
1:44:30That could be a shocker at this point rather than anything else.
1:44:34And they don't really know whether he's paralyzed or not.
1:44:37He's back.
1:44:38He's taken five or six units of blood.
1:44:41He looks reasonably good.
1:44:42He says the outlook is reasonably good because there is nothing that isn't.
1:44:47There's nothing they can find that is preferable.
1:44:52And he's 38.
1:44:53He's 33.
1:44:54What about getting out the idea, before the right wing, or the left wing, or the right wing, of a government supporter, or a government candidate supporter, or a candidate supporter?
1:45:17Well, I said that, I just said to Mark, though, this guy's a man out there now, you know, behind us.
1:45:23has taken over the case completely from anybody else.
1:45:27I said to Mark that I had just heard from my office that there was some rumors to this event.
1:45:34We checked that first night when they started questioning.
1:45:38They went into that immediately.
1:45:41to get to somebody.
1:45:44You can't defend the equity of the house.
1:45:47We don't have to receive that report from over at the hospital.
1:45:52Get the defendant report.
1:45:54Get a report to Clawson.
1:45:59That he said he supported Kennedy and McGovern.
1:46:04Yes.
1:46:06You see that?
1:46:11Of course, he's convinced us he's the one who called the University of San Diego to tell him that.
1:46:25But in other words, let me say that they think that he's going to retire now, huh?
1:46:32Or that I should.
1:46:37No, no, we'll catch this.
1:46:39Well, he says we're still on surgery, so we can't be sure.
1:46:42And they haven't actually got the bullet yet, so they don't know exactly where it is.
1:46:47The x-ray shows it was here in the spinal cord and not in the bladder.
1:46:51It didn't hit the liver.
1:46:53It did not hit the liver.
1:46:56All right, but suppose this now comes out of his chest.
1:46:59How do you see it?
1:47:00It can't be.
1:47:00You get a great emotional level for a moment.
1:47:08If it's about his right, the more I think about this person, that it will scare people.
1:47:13That this man could be subject to an assassination attempt.
1:47:20He obviously is around.
1:47:21He'll get some of these birds.
1:47:23But it will frighten people after the first wave of sin.
1:47:28Be sure to pin the assassination.
1:47:30Just try to pin the assassination.
1:47:32Look, we play the game of the smart group, Jim.
1:47:36They have pinned the assassination of Kennedy on the right wing, the virtues.
1:47:40It was done by a communist.
1:47:42And it was the greatest hoax that has ever been perpetuated.
1:47:47Can I respectfully suggest, can we pin this on one of theirs?
1:47:52Don't you agree, Bob?
1:47:52Sure.
1:47:53We know Donald Trump is going to move the story in a hurry, but so is the student.
1:47:56Right.
1:47:57He's a revolutionary.
1:48:00That's easy.
1:48:00He's still going to be worried about that.
1:48:02He's 21 years old now.
1:48:04I wouldn't say he was a supporter.
1:48:07Just say he was a supporter of McGovern and Kennedy.
1:48:11Just put that out.
1:48:12Just say you have it on unmistakable evidence.
1:48:16They've got to release the rest of them.
1:48:17I said there ought to be a record on it.
1:48:20Screw the record.
1:48:21Just say he was a supporter of that and that and put it out.
1:48:24Just say we have an authenticator reporter in charge.
1:48:30The thing is, tell your man, Rossum,
1:48:33This is a hot tip, and give it to somebody who's a friend.
1:48:37I'm a friend?
1:48:39Yes, I do.
1:48:39Okay.
1:48:43Bob, the moment you get out of the business of whether to communicate it or not, you're dead.
1:48:48What about Bob?
1:48:49I don't know what I'm thinking.
1:48:50I'm just trying to get to that.
1:48:52Well, I hope you try to get me.
1:48:53Eric, we've got you.
1:48:53Don't worry too much about that.
1:48:55Yep, they've got his identity now, so we ought to be able to find out something about him.
1:49:05Oh, bad shot.
1:49:29Thirty-five shots, thirty-eight.
1:49:31Thirty-eight's a pretty good gun, isn't it?
1:49:32I don't know nothing about it, but it's a big gun.
1:49:35Thirty-eight would kill people, kind of.
1:49:37Twenty-two would kill people.
1:49:40Yeah, I know it hits.
1:49:41You've got to hit it pretty straight.
1:49:47Thirty-eight, though, was a hell of a gun.
1:49:50I had a .45, a Navy, I didn't have any shots of that, except for the .30 caliber, your usual...
1:49:58I really thought Kamaleo was very good in this sort of, you know, he's good at the immediate things, isn't he?
1:50:31Okay, yeah.
1:50:34Hello, yeah.
1:50:39Right, Mark Bell just called and said that.
1:50:43And that no one will unless they've got control over the thing.
1:50:47He's got a question tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight.
1:51:16OK.
1:51:58Yep.
1:51:58Okay.
1:51:59What he's saying is the same thing.
1:52:02He's confirming that no one's talked to him enough about anyone having him.
1:52:08As soon as he's fighting the prairies, as soon as he's able to talk, they will get him.
1:52:13No, but they're good.
1:52:15It's not like they're... One of the concerns is to let the press or the local police or somebody else get him, to get him worried about him.
1:52:24We don't have any control over him.
1:52:27You sell it to him?
1:52:28No, I don't.
1:52:28You sell it to this fellow?
1:52:30Of course.
1:52:31Of course he's a student.
1:52:33And I said, of course he's from Wisconsin, and he worked in McGovern's school.
1:52:36That's what we're doing.
1:52:37Okay.
1:52:38I said, I'm sure he doesn't.
1:52:39He doesn't.
1:52:40He doesn't.
1:52:41You don't have to sell, do you?
1:52:42He's having a good time.
1:52:43Oh, yeah, he does.
1:52:45He's a hard rock student.
1:52:50But you know what?
1:52:51I'm going to.
1:52:54The Children's Brigade is going to blame us for stirring up the country about the bustling in Iraq.
1:52:58We're responsible for this whole goddamn thing, what do you think about me?
1:53:04There'll be two lines, Mr. President.
1:53:08One is, why should our country sit and, oh yeah, Hawaii is, and we have a full strategy together.
1:53:15That was the instant the government reaction.
1:53:18Apparently today.
1:53:18He's already said what a terrible night, but it's just an indication of what a sick country this is.
1:53:29The other line will be that I'm delighted this is a 38, because this guy is not.
1:53:3538ers, they don't buy those.
1:53:36It's not a Saturday night special.
1:53:38Anybody who went out and bought a 38er.
1:53:39I think I did the right thing to call Conley in order for Kennedy to be protected.
1:53:44Kennedy was so bad.
1:53:44The mask was ruined.
1:53:50I think we, I think as far as Wallace and I, he's going to think we're all in our 40s.
1:53:56You think he's really frightened personally?
1:53:59Yeah.
1:53:59Any man who carries around the personal security that he missed has been frightened from the beginning.
1:54:04He knows he's got to be on the web.
1:54:07He can't whip up the information.
1:54:08I think he is, but that's just a thought.
1:54:10I mean, that's not a thought.
1:54:13He carries the person's security around him to build up the excitement just like this.
1:54:16But he also, as Bob, he's got to have in the back of his mind that Huey Long was shot there.
1:54:20Same kind of person.
1:54:21Then you don't carry around that steel building.
1:54:25I don't carry around a lot of state buildings for a man.
1:54:28Not that building.
1:54:29Once you're running that ground, he's right in there in the building.
1:54:35I saw him in the building.
1:54:36Who else was in the ground?
1:54:39Boss.
1:54:39He just walked off.
1:54:41Just walked off the place and walked down.
1:54:42Well, not one thing I want to tell you.
1:54:43Secret service is not going to be helped on me when I grow up.
1:54:45I've got to take the risk.
1:54:45I've got to do it.
1:54:45I must not be afraid.
1:54:46We have to connect.
1:54:46We must not fear, be afraid, or be...
1:54:47Yes, sir?
1:54:47Otherwise, I should resign and go to a government
1:55:13You agree or not?
1:55:17I agree to a point.
1:55:20I'd like to put this thing around its course.
1:55:22Why are you letting me out?
1:55:24The point is, and I absolutely confess to this, putting more secret service on increases the danger of the president being killed, not decreases it, because it stimulates all that stuff.
1:55:39And they can't stop it.
1:55:41You've got to go like this.
1:55:44Like this guy, who is willing to take a .38 caliber gun and get into the middle of a crowd and shoot at them.
1:55:50Basically point blank, blank, blank, blank.
1:55:52There is no way to stop him.
1:55:56I'm going to send somebody to the studio.
1:55:59This guy fired five shots before anybody got to him and he has full Secret Service protection.
1:56:05He had 20 Secret Service men there.
1:56:09He hit 20 men and hit one agent.
1:56:10He's got 50.
1:56:1150 assigned to us, 20 all the way under you.
1:56:13Hello?
1:56:13John, how'd it go?
1:56:17But how'd it go at the reception that day?
1:56:26And didn't Pat Handler show up or anything?
1:56:31No, of course he didn't.
1:56:34Right.
1:56:36Right.
1:56:41I think it was, I think it was good I went, but you know.
1:56:42Maybe better, I don't know.
1:56:49I didn't think it was right, I don't think it was right.
1:56:52I'm glad you're done.
1:56:54How about Nellie then?
1:56:54She's the actual host.
1:56:55Ah, let me put her on the phone.
1:56:57How was the room, Nellie?
1:56:59Well, that's great.
1:56:59I want to tell you that if you're going to write your notes, let's say it on the phone.
1:57:06You got a minute?
1:57:09That, as you know, when I had this announcement with John tomorrow, I just apologized.
1:57:14But by God, we do appreciate what you've done.
1:57:18You've made great sacrifice.
1:57:20You've done a great service to the country.
1:57:23I know that it's been terribly hard, too.
1:57:26But by God, I want you to know that I'm going to send John to Latin America right after I return to Moscow on a little trip.
1:57:32And I want you to go with me.
1:57:34You're going to be here next.
1:57:36I'm excited for the country.
1:57:39Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina.
1:57:45If he wants to add a country, it's okay.
1:57:53The main thing is I want you to go to those places.
1:57:56These are all countries where they've got God and protection.
1:58:06Okay, John, I just told Nellie the countries we're going to send you to, three, Colombia and, of course, Brazil and
1:58:35Okay.
1:58:35Alright.
1:59:12Yes, of course, you can call me any time.
1:59:16Okay.
1:59:16Okay, Jordan, good shape.
1:59:28Tilly brain is fine, as you say.
1:59:34I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
1:59:44We've got it all stirred up and covered.
1:59:59I think you've got all of that covered, but if you want, you've got it under control instead of everybody passing around.
2:00:10Right.
2:00:12at the end of the eye.
2:00:13The Bureau has complete control of it now, so I think that they could just talk about it.
2:00:21As soon as they can get in and start questioning him, we'll do it.
2:00:28We'll do it.
2:00:29Yeah.
2:00:29We'll do it.
2:00:29As soon as they can.
2:00:30As soon as they can.
2:00:36They've got the picture early and hit him, and he also told them he was holding them.
2:00:41institutionally responsible for the guy's safety.
2:00:43Also, the judge for me ended up chucking him on that.
2:00:47And I'm going to go to the acting director for you and let you go.
2:00:53So in the room, as we heard, he said, oh, my God.
2:00:57He'll take you to court.
2:00:59And we are trying to cause him to put up with what he's done.
2:01:06Right?
2:01:07And we know that's going to move very fast.
2:01:15Now, if they want to continue the reports, well, yes, I want to know about his condition.
2:01:23Anything about his condition, I want to know at midnight, you know, okay?
2:01:28After that, if you want any report on the FBI interrogation, oh, hell yes.
2:01:34Anything until midnight about any of those things, I need to know, because I've got to be a compliment to the other one who said he didn't care.
2:01:55Very good.
2:02:31As soon as they can get in and start questioning the game, we'll do it within an hour.
2:02:34They've got the picture of the hitter, and he also told me that
2:02:57responsible for the guy's safety.
2:02:58Also the job information.
2:02:59Ended up chucking him on that.
2:03:00And I'm going to hit go, because the acting director really liked it.
2:03:02There you go.
2:03:02So in the room, as we heard, he said, oh, I got it.
2:03:03He'll do it.
2:03:03He'll do it.
2:03:04He'll do it.
2:03:04He'll do it.
2:03:31Now, anyone continuing the reports?
2:03:32Well, I guess I don't know about his condition.
2:03:33Anything about his condition, I don't know until midnight, you know, okay?
2:03:35After that, we'll see what happens.
2:03:36Do you want any report on the FBI certification?
2:03:37Oh, hell yes.
2:03:38Anything until midnight.
2:03:38About any of those things, I need to know, because I've got to be a compliment to everyone who said it.

Nixon, Haldeman & Colson on George Wallace and Assassination attempt

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Also recorded on May 15, 1972

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