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Conversation 354-029

TapeTape 354StartFriday, October 6, 1972 at 2:28 PMEndFriday, October 6, 1972 at 2:32 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Laird, Melvin R.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird met briefly to discuss political messaging and the strategic framing of administration policies in response to critics. They focused on countering adversarial rhetoric by emphasizing the administration's accomplishments rather than allowing opponents to define the public narrative. The President stressed the importance of seizing control of the debate to ensure his administration's perspective on national priorities takes precedence.

Political StrategyPublic RelationsAdministration MessagingDefense PolicyPolitical Opposition
AudioNARA Description

On October 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Melvin R. Laird met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:28 pm to 2:32 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 354-029 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 354-29

Date: October 6, 1972
Time: 2:28 pm - 2:32 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

Melvin R. Laird talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 31-21]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

So, I wanted to tell you that, uh...
I wanted to tell you that, uh...
Yeah, you might want to, what you might do is
Yeah, and Adam here, and the main point that I think is that at the beginning, whatever, his therapy, Blair's therapy, and Senator's, and so forth, and the way we've been here, we're here, and we've run, and so forth, is really not very much use of all the ideas, how much we've accomplished, and secondly,
Finally, that what they are advocating is strip it all away, strip all the camouflage.
I'll argue that they're advocating a common strip over itself, you know.
That's the key word of the Constitution.
It isn't just getting rid of you, but they, you know, they hit on you, but, you know, they're going to go ahead and allow the position where it really is.
If I want to kill you, you're not going to want to do the latter.
But, yeah, I'd wait till he kills me, and I'm going to be listening to his speeches, and I'm going to get the first word, and I'm going to get the second word.
But whatever each shot is mine.
But if they want to make, if they want to make, you know, if they want to make the world a better place, that's very much who I am.
Sure.
Sure.
Sure.
Sure.
Sure.
Well, I think on Sunday at one point there, the children continued to handle the fact that, you know, that all these defense companies tried to gloss over it and say, well, I agree, I agree, I agree, I agree, and that's all I've ever done.
But some people said, well, look at the facts.
But, you know, the mind, you know, he's proud of it, but here's what it does.
Okay.
Good luck.
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