Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 426 › Conversation 426-035

Nixon & Arends on Legislative Strategy and Veto Overrides

Tuesday, April 10, 1973 · 3:26 PM–3:30 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Arends, Leslie C.Conversation426-035 on Tape 426StartTuesday, April 10, 1973 at 3:26 PMEndTuesday, April 10, 1973 at 3:30 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 426-035 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and House Minority Whip Leslie C. Arends discussed recent legislative successes regarding veto overrides and strategic outreach to congressional members. The conversation focused on maintaining momentum for administration initiatives, specifically planning an upcoming meeting with senators and representatives to solidify support. Nixon emphasized the need for aggressive advocacy on legislative priorities, particularly regarding energy policy, and requested input on incorporating bipartisan and Southern Democratic perspectives into his outreach efforts.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, the way you did even better than you said.

That was a great job.

Yeah.

How do the boys feel?

Yeah.

I don't know whether you've got the word.

I tried to call Jerry Olsen, but I thought it would be a nice thing.

I thought it would be a nice thing.

Thursday afternoon, about 5.30, how does that sound to you?

I'm going to have the 36 senators, too.

In other words, we'll call it the veto crowd, huh?

Thank you.

See, by getting 189, I hope that five or six more of you down here had as many as the other side.

What is that?

What's the reason?

Earlier, you know, you remember when you and I, when we all met, what you were doing, they were about two months ago.

But what's changed?

You know that you've got to remember that you've got to hit it very hard.

That's it.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

If you do it, Jerry, then how should I pick a couple of southerners?

Wagner, who would I pick?

There are five Democrats in the Senate.

Would you give the bill a recommendation?

All right, fine.

We'll see you.

Very good.

Well, part of that is that, you know, we have really been working.

I mean, I've talked to him in advance.

I've talked to Russ once.

good good well this right from now on you know we're heavy man by far but that'll be we're going to put plenty of wild cards and so a lot of our republicans the energy one i think next wednesday i may have it in the dining room and have maybe 50 60 because it's such a

But we're going after him.

All right.

NARA Description

On April 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Leslie C. Arends met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:26 pm to 3:30 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 426-035 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 426-35

Date: April 10, 1973
Time: 3:26 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Leslie C. Arends.

[See Conversation No. 44-129]

Also recorded on April 10, 1973

044-128 3:25 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:25 pm.
426-034 3:25 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:25 pm.
044-129 3:26 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Leslie C. Arends talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:26 pm and 3:30 pm.
044-130 3:33 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:33 pm.
044-131 3:33 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:33 pm.
044-132 3:33 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. talked on the telephone from 3:33 pm to 3:34 pm.
426-036 3:33 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:33 pm.
426-037 3:33 PM · 12 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 3:33 pm and 3:34 pm.

All 81 conversations from April 10, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 426-035, April 10, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/426-035 (accessed October 5, 2026).