Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 396-001
Date: Friday, January 12, 1973 at 10:30 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Woods, Rose Mary; Acker, Marjorie P.
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/396-001

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Pull it for a while.
[0:05] It takes a while to get back.
[0:37] Yeah, but I'm starting there.
[0:42] Now rewind.
[0:43] Oh wait, you're getting up, sir.
[0:50] Yeah, that's right.
[0:52] No, wait.
[0:52] This way.
[0:53] I'm going to stop for a second.
[0:59] I'm going to stop right here.
[1:02] I'm going to stop right here.
[1:05] I can stop.
[1:07] I can stop, right?
[1:09] Yeah.
[1:09] But now if you want to record, you've got to move this back over.
[1:13] Push the red button.
[1:14] I can't do it.
[1:17] I'm just moving this back over.
[1:21] That's the point.
[1:22] I want to know how I can use this to go back and forth.
[1:26] I never go back over it every time.
[1:28] The only time I ever use the different thing in the gig to listen to it is at the beginning of the gig to be sure the damn thing is on.
[1:34] That's the only time.
[1:36] If you want to do that, you've got to go through the process.
[1:37] All right.
[1:38] So the process to do that is this.
[1:40] That's the first way to do that, is that right?
[1:51] There is a much simpler one.
[2:03] The better one is simpler, but it's not as affordable as that.
[2:11] I don't want a portable one.
[2:14] Don't buy too many of these.
[2:15] I'll just tell you what's the better one.
[2:17] The bigger one.
[2:19] What I'm getting at is that I can't figure out here.
[2:23] All right, this is on start.
[2:24] And I can't hear anything.
[2:28] It wasn't on, so you're playing now.
[2:32] Turn it off.
[2:36] Now rewind.
[2:37] If it's on, is it on start or is it on start?
[3:02] The other thing is you have to hold this one down all the time.
[3:07] No, no, you don't need to do this on the side.
[3:09] I would never pull around and listen.
[3:10] And then you can't listen.
[3:13] The one on the side, I know that I record it.
[3:15] I only want to listen once at the beginning of the hour.
[3:20] Then from that time on I can do this.
[3:47] That's why it is complicated.
[3:50] I think it's, you know, you have that you have that on thing on for quite a while.
[4:10] It's just.
[4:42] You're erasing and recording.
[5:33] But for this, not now, you don't get to take it.
[5:37] The Red Nose Pest will be down in a little bit.
[5:38] They're coming.
[5:39] They're coming.
[5:40] We're opening the tape.
[5:41] We're talking about it.
[6:06] So there's all that to do.
[6:09] That's true.
[6:13] They've got some of the other ones.
[6:19] I would change the other one.
[6:21] The other one, the same concept you were talking about, the advantage of the other one is it's got all the controls right on the front.
[6:27] You just push them down and they stay down.
[6:28] They have no fiddling around with us.
[6:30] Much easier.
[6:31] You don't have to worry about this side over so far.
[6:37] We were running for quite a while.
[6:39] We were running.
[6:41] We were running.
[6:46] We weren't using it.
[6:48] Well...
[6:49] This is Carlson.
[6:49] Yeah, this is battery powered.
[6:50] Take it anywhere you want.
[6:51] This is battery powered.
[6:53] Yeah.
[6:53] You know, it all depends on the electricity as well.
[7:05] Well, I think what we got there is the cheap affordable one and the other.
[7:06] And if it is, it is affordable.
[7:08] You've got to carry affordable.
[7:10] Like I did with the other.
[7:12] I don't think you can carry something in three.
[7:16] I carry it because I can throw it in my briefcase.
[7:17] You don't have to worry about that.
[7:18] This does not seem to have a little bit of that.
[7:21] If that shows where it goes, it's not.
[7:28] You don't need to go back to the beginning but I do
[7:47] I don't know if I want to dictate an hour.
[7:49] Sure, but when you put it in, you're going to know that.
[7:52] That's the advantage of the other machine, though.
[7:57] It rewinds.
[7:57] When you push rewind, it keeps pointing up or down.
[7:59] I like it when they've got one.
[8:00] They'll know what one you've had.
[8:02] You just push them.
[8:04] Push it hard.
[8:04] Down, straight down.
[8:16] The only way you can get back to the beginning is to roll it all the way back.
[8:43] I'd have to hold it over so it's going back to the other one.
[8:53] I'd have to hold it for 30 minutes.
[9:04] No, it's going to launch faster than that.
[9:13] to the right.
[9:14] Is that a good idea?
[9:20] Yeah, that's okay, buddy.
[9:21] And then it won't center over that idea, but the other side.
[9:24] Let it go forward to the right.
[9:25] You're in the middle now, so it's going to be a good idea.
[9:34] And it gets to the right.
[9:36] It should get to the stage.
[9:37] Now this should probably work.
[9:38] I just want to learn a lot, but it doesn't.
[9:51] I generally prefer to pick one up and carry it.
[10:00] I prefer that to have another one.
[10:05] I hear the two they had here.
[10:10] I think that's the one I like the most.
[10:20] But if the others get here before we leave, we'll let you see.
[10:25] Yeah.
[10:25] See if you want.
[10:25] I don't want to go hell of a lot of them.
[10:36] No, no.
[10:37] We'll come back.
[10:39] I don't swear to them about twice a year.
[10:41] They know you only want two.
[10:54] I do not want them around all of my offices.
[10:58] No?
[10:59] No, for the reason that for my memorandum of file, I use, generally use, I try to use these, just a parcel of them, because I can go out and use them.
[11:13] I wish that they'd take another one.
[11:16] All right, what about assuming, um, in your Lincoln City, you might want one there.
[11:19] If you don't want one there, you just...
[11:22] Well, I would say that one, a permanent one there.
[11:57] I don't need a portal.
[11:58] I wouldn't change.
[12:01] I've taken the lead for my private memorandum, which I will not write in the Oval Office.
[12:09] Forget that.
[12:10] Just leave that off machine as it is.
[12:14] I'm not offering it.
[12:15] I'm not going to write it here.
[12:17] If you want to do it in the Oval Office, I'll know a good thing around it.
[12:19] In about 30 seconds, you can get one for me.
[12:25] Yeah, well, it's just right off the table.
[12:48] I just don't know.
[12:55] perfectly adequate for the purpose of dictating a little memoranda and so forth.
[13:10] But I'd rather use this kind of machine for the other dictation.
[13:16] And I don't know how the hell I'm going to get it.
[13:18] I don't want to push somebody every time I want to dictate something.
[13:20] But you can keep, we can keep, there certainly should be a portable line.
[13:22] There can be a, there'll be a, yeah.
[13:38] And it's a different machine.
[13:43] I'll just have it in the drawer and pull it out and bleed these other machines.
[13:51] And you probably don't want that one at all.
[13:53] Well, I don't think you will.
[13:54] The other one is much better.
[13:55] It's easier for you to use.
[13:58] It's also a better machine.
[13:59] This is the portable version.
[14:00] The other is the desktop version.
[14:02] And this is for a guy who is in the traveling sales and keeps it on the seat of his car and picks it up and talks into it.
[14:18] Reporters use these.
[14:19] I would never...
[14:20] But you are.
[14:21] And I would not change these.
[14:22] I wouldn't take all these.
[14:23] We don't want to buy them.
[14:24] We don't need them.
[14:25] They'll get whatever you want.
[14:26] Now, as I understand...
[14:32] I'm not dictating it.
[15:17] And now I'm going to touch it.
[15:27] What I do is put this on my machine.
[15:32] And I'm going to touch it.
[15:33] And I'm going to touch it.
[15:36] And I'm going to touch it.
[15:39] And I'm going to touch it.
[15:41] Now how does that go?
[15:45] But it will erase the moment I hit it, that's right.
[15:51] But you'll start with two takes.
[15:55] Now, if I want to rewind again.
[16:00] There it is.
[16:01] But now if you're running around to the beginning.
[16:07] Yes, if you're on the other side.
[16:09] Turn it over.
[16:10] But if you go ahead and play past that beep-beep thing just a little bit, you'll get to what you just said.
[16:16] Oh, yeah.
[16:18] Now, however, if I want to dictate, I've got to first start with this and push the red one down.
[16:27] Perfect.
[16:27] Now, it's on for dictation.
[16:28] And now, however, if I want to do what I often normally do, start and stop and start and stop without listening.
[16:36] Pretty easy.
[16:36] And then let's put it in right here.
[16:51] Well, I'm not a listener.
[16:53] Also, the value of making the white text is you don't have to hold it in your hand.
[17:05] That's just the other one.
[17:06] Can you hold it in your hand?
[17:08] Well, you see, I do hold things in my hand.
[17:11] That's the point.
[17:13] That's why I have the little ones as well as the big ones.
[17:20] I very often like to just sit and hold something in my hand, rather than having a big machine.
[17:27] Because the machines are always in every room.
[17:29] That's why this could be very useful.
[17:32] This could be very useful.
[17:35] I'd like to have one of the others, and I'd say it's much more easier to operate.
[17:37] You've got to try both of them.
[17:38] Well, try both of them.
[17:39] But I can put your finger on one, and I do very much like to hold.
[18:05] I mean, here the switches are right with me.
[18:08] And you're patient as well.
[18:10] See, it's fine if you carry it with you.
[18:16] I just do that.
[18:17] This works fine.
[18:18] And you're...
[18:21] Frankly, Rose, I don't think the other ties are necessary.
[18:24] Well, there's already some spaces with every relationship, and if you'd like one better, maybe you'd like two of them.
[18:30] At least you're not...
[18:45] Now, I've already checked with Munson.
[19:21] All right.
[19:31] When you grow up, I'm going to tell him once in a great life.
[19:39] The other day, I think I'm going to try to strike him back.
[19:55] Scotty, I was the best that I was.
[20:04] I was wearing a cutaway coat.
[20:05] That was, uh, that was an argument.
[20:06] And, uh, I don't know how they ever got out, but I realized what happened.
[20:08] They were remembering the wedding.
[20:10] It's the only time I've ever worn it.
[20:20] I tried to read and ask him about it, and he said, they had to bring it to the rest.
[20:29] Is it in the book?
[20:33] and it also says Federal Way Optional, which is apparently what people like to put there, or some people did put Federal Way Optional, because a lot of those guys, you know, have Federal Ways and don't have a Close Close.
[20:57] So, yeah, that's the way it appears, and they were asking, are you Federal Way or Close Close or Federal Way?
[21:00] Probably everybody's been canceling Federal Ways.
[21:02] That's what I'm trying to help a lot of people.
[21:10] The manual says close the book.
[21:11] I know a lot of people don't know the book.
[21:13] Most of us just work with the book.
[21:14] Well, here, in here, could I bring this to the back of the book?
[21:17] The golden one and the manual.
[22:16] Yeah.
[22:19] Rather than going to .
[22:45] Maybe I just take two of these.
[22:54] Because there's so much of light.
[22:57] I think the two gardens, and then that way, if I get a spot on it, and it burns or something.
[23:09] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
[23:36] Anyway, I've taken that.
[23:39] I forgot.
[23:40] I see this is a python that I like.
[23:46] They're really excellent.
[23:57] When they asked for Mrs. Berlin, they said it must be someone's face.
[24:27] Don't be pretty, actually.
[24:50] And this one, of course, is so ancient that it's probably at least as valuable as that.
[25:04] More.
[25:04] More, more, more.
[25:04] Did I hear it?
[25:08] Yeah.
[25:09] Very old, very bad, right?
[25:10] I don't know, huh?
[25:13] You'd better shove those in there.
[25:17] I wouldn't put them off, though.
[25:40] Yeah.
[25:43] Yeah.
[25:47] Yeah.
[25:49] Yeah.
[25:53] Yeah.
[26:05] No, that takes forward.
[26:11] Oh, okay.
[26:13] Oh, okay.
[26:15] Put it right here.
[26:23] I'll put it right here.
[26:25] Okay.
[26:46] and do you see things put up anywhere that don't stand?
[26:56] Obviously, yeah.
[26:57] And do you want the person with the body with the cane on face to face to sit down?
[27:04] No.
[27:04] Do you have a story on that?
[27:05] Because Mike, after that man, I called him and said, you know, I already asked if I could get the original.
[27:12] And he said, you sure can.
[27:14] And he called back in about a half an hour and he said, I'm very sorry that it wasn't Trisha or Julie.
[27:23] He said, Julie.
[27:23] He said, I'm very sorry that Julie asked for it to give to her father.
[27:27] So I can't give it to you.
[27:30] I'll give you a print.
[27:32] And so, unbeknownst to me, in the midst of all this, my sister Betsy wrote to Betty from California and said, could I have the original that you gave to my mother?
[27:42] For Christmas.
[27:43] And Terry wrote back to her and said, uh, that you asked for it, I already asked for it, but I'll give you a little something.
[27:57] And so he sang a lot of that.
[27:58] And then he called her, you know, and said, Julie, Julie, sit up.
[28:00] You got it here.
[28:01] Betsy got a frame you gave her.
[28:02] Julie, that's us.
[28:03] Julie and, uh, and me, apparently, that's what we're talking about today.
[28:07] That's the band that we're talking about.
[28:08] That's what we're talking about.
[30:14] I don't know.
[30:41] I don't know.
[30:42] I don't know.
[30:48] Thank you.
[31:48] All right.
[32:21] Yeah.
[32:44] Yeah.
[32:44] Yeah.
[32:44] Yeah.
[32:44] Yeah.
[32:45] Yeah.
[32:46] Yeah.
[32:47] Yeah.
[32:48] Yeah.
[32:59] Yeah.
[33:00] Yeah.
[33:15] Yeah.
[33:15] Yeah.
[33:15] Yeah.
[33:15] Yeah.
[33:16] Yeah.
[33:31] .
[33:36] .
[33:43] .
[33:55] .
[33:56] .
[34:12] And I'm going to go back to what I was telling you all the time.
[34:35] I'm going to go back to what I was telling you all the time.
[34:36] I'm going to go back to what I was telling you all the time.
[34:59] Bye.
[35:26] Well, I guess it doesn't matter.
[35:39] If you get the job on the case, you can't rather than having a consistent secretary for a while.
[35:45] That's what I think.
[35:46] Well, I'll tell you, there's some people I was looking at who took a chance to get them.
[35:48] Why don't they go to those type of people?
[35:49] Some of those are on the number, and that's a way to have them without having to explain to someone else why they aren't there.
[35:52] I didn't feel like I was going to have to do that.
[36:00] What are you doing?
[36:35] I'm a little bit concerned about it.
[36:54] I know that the case is supposed to be resolved.
[36:57] Skelly does a better job than Mitterrand.
[36:58] Our story, I'll say, is wrong than Mitterrand.
[36:59] I'm just going to let Skelly does not do as good a job as Ron does.
[40:09] Yeah, we'll tell anybody.
[40:11] If they're down by us, we're down.
[40:12] If they're down by us, we're down.
[43:15] It's all the way over there.
[43:17] It's probably the hell of a trip.