Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 359 › Conversation 359-013

Nixon & Aspinall on Primary election and Congressional relations

Thursday, September 14, 1972 · 2:44 PM–2:45 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·47 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Aspinall, Wayne N.Conversation359-013 onTape 359StartThursday, September 14, 1972 at 2:44 PMEndThursday, September 14, 1972 at 2:45 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 359-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Representative Wayne N. Aspinall to express personal regrets regarding Aspinall's recent loss in the primary election. The President commended Aspinall for his long tenure of service to the country and encouraged him to focus on his past political achievements rather than the defeat. The brief exchange served as a professional courtesy to acknowledge Aspinall's legislative career.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Fine.
Hello?
I just wanted you to know that a lot of your old friends were mighty sorry to see you lose that primary, and we just appreciate your work for the country.
Well, I've followed you for 25 years, you know, so...
You've been here a lot longer than I, and I do know that sometimes you come to the end of the road, but you want to remember all the ones you won and forget the ones you lost.
Yes, sir.
Good luck to you, then.

NARA Description

On September 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Wayne N. Aspinall met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:44 pm to 2:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 359-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 359-13

Date: September 14, 1972
Time: 2:44 pm - 2:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Wayne N. Aspinall.

             Aspinall’s primary election
                 -Loss

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

                 -The President's support

Also recorded on September 14, 1972

  • 359-010 1:42 PM · 13 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 1:42 pm and 2:39 pm.
  • 776-018 1:43 PM · 24 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:43 pm and 3:41 pm.
  • 359-011 2:39 PM · 10 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 2:39 pm and 2:44 pm.
  • 359-012 2:39 PM · 13 sec — 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 2:39 pm and 2:44 pm.
  • 359-014 2:45 PM · 9 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 2:45 pm and 2:50 pm.
  • 359-015 2:50 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:50 pm to 3:41 pm.
  • 777-001 3:41 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:41 pm and 3:49 pm.
  • 777-002 3:49 PM · 2 hr 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull, George P. Shultz, Arthur F. Burns, John B. Connally, Herbert Stein, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:49 pm to 5:59 pm.

All 29 conversations from September 14, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 359-013, September 14, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/359-013 (accessed September 18, 2026).