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Conversation 045-108

TapeTape 45StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 6:49 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 6:51 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rogers, William P.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discussed the recruitment of David Packard for an appointment, agreeing that Nixon should personally call Packard to address his reluctance and concerns regarding potential stock conflicts. Rogers confirmed that congressional leaders, including Mike Mansfield and George Mahon, strongly supported Packard as the best candidate for the position. Additionally, Nixon briefed Rogers on a recent meeting with Vice President Spiro Agnew, during which he instructed Agnew to refrain from making public political statements.

David PackardPresidential appointmentsSpiro AgnewCongressional relationsExecutive administration
AudioNARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:49 pm and 6:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-108 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-108

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: Between 6:49 and 6:51 p.m.
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William P. Rogers.

[See also Conversation No. 433-46]

     David Packard
          -Appointment
                -Delay
          -Possible call by President
          -Stock problem
          -President’s schedule
          -Rogers’s’ conversations
                -John E. Stennis, Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield, George H. Mahon
          -Desire for job

     Spiro T. Agnew
           -Conversation with President
           -Public statements

     President’s telephone call to Packard
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Secretary Rogers.
Bill.
Yeah, Mr. President.
I wondered how we, uh, how we have now left the Packard thing.
I, uh, that, with all of our other things, I... Well, uh, the way we left it was that, uh, we didn't get in touch with him, but I think that if we're going to convince him to take it, you've got to make a call.
Yes, yes, yes, I would do that, but I don't know what I can tell him about the stop thing, and so... Well, the only nice thing to do is tell him to come and see us.
You have a feeling we can work it out, huh?
Yes.
Don't you think he's the best man?
Oh, by far.
All right.
I will make a call to him then and come back and have a chat with me.
He says he could come tomorrow.
I guess you're going to leave, aren't you, Thursday noon or something like that?
I thought I would, but I can stay.
Well, he said he could come here Thursday.
You see, I've talked to...
I talked to Mike Mansfield and I talked to George Mahon.
They all thought he was the best possible choice.
We've got to convince him.
He's a little bit reluctant.
Yeah, yeah.
I thought you should know, incidentally, I got Agnew in.
I wasn't intending to crack him.
I was just telling everybody to stay clear if they had any political ambitions, because he'd been, you know, the person of a gun has been out making statements both ways, and he's got to keep his damn mouth shut.
So I said, now look here, you stay out of this, and so he was fine.
Good.
All right, Mr. President.
Thank you.
Good idea.
Bye.
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