Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 462-009
Date: Friday, March 5, 1971 at 10:41 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Garment, Leonard
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/462-009

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[1:30] Well, we tried to, I was, I was trying to get the, really on that, on that subject, big, it probably makes, it makes Xavier's job all the harder for a few weeks, but, but I felt it was necessary then, in a nice way, in a nice way, to go right over the heads of the press and say they'd been lying.
[1:51] And by golly, they can't, you know, it took them on in a way that they didn't, you know.
[2:00] I mean, I'm like, I smiled at it and I said, no, I know you all disagree, but I talked to that television audience.
[2:06] I said, you all remember.
[2:07] I said, do you remember what they all said?
[2:10] They said that what I said, what they said, I was right, they were wrong.
[2:15] Now, I say the same thing.
[2:19] I hope we're quicker than the country we're in.
[2:22] But I think it was good to do that.
[2:27] Yeah, yeah.
[2:27] It was good to do it.
[2:29] And it made that understanding of loss, too, the purpose there is really to get the hell out of which it is.
[2:44] And it's working pretty well now.
[2:45] It's picking up today, tomorrow.
[2:46] And so we're going to have a few knocks, but we're up against their best.
[2:47] You know, if you've ever read the history of the World War, even World War I, I mean, the great German armies suffered defeats and won battles, and the French won battles.
[2:55] and one wins the war.
[2:58] That's what this is.
[3:02] Well, incidentally, I think we reassured our friends in the Israeli community.
[3:18] When I answered Semple flatly, I said the question is, are we going to impose a settlement?
[3:23] The answer is no.
[3:23] Now, of course, naturally, you will know we are trying to urge them.
[3:25] We're not going to impose a settlement.
[3:27] That'll help a little there.
[3:29] We're going to have to run a sled in there and hobble around.
[3:34] But we're working our butts off to try to avoid it and slow it down and adjust in every area which way.
[3:38] But the main thing is we don't want to cease fire.
[3:45] Ravine should know.
[3:45] I mean, you might know.
[3:46] They said, well, you know what the president said.
[3:51] We would not go settlement.
[3:51] But, you know, you've got to react.
[3:54] You've all got to be reasonable on your part.
[3:55] Don't put me in a spot.
[3:57] See?
[3:58] Right, right, right, right, okay.