Conversation 473-006

On March 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Dwight A. Ink, Alan Dean, Charles R. Perry, Donald B. Rice, Richard P. Nathan, Samuel M. Cohn, Charles Bingman, Wesley K. Sasaki, Emerson J. Elliott, Harry S. Havens, Earl D. Rhode, Carl W. Tiller, Rodger L. Greene, Raymond L. Walters, Seymour Blum, Russell Chapin, James Finch, Paul H. O'Neill, John B. Connally, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:20 am and 11:25 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 473-006 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 473-6

Date: March 25, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:20 am and 11:25 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Dwight A. Ink, Alan Dean, Charles R. Perry, Donald B. Rice, Richard P.
Nathan, Samuel M. Cohn, Charles Bingman, Wesley K. Sasaki, Emerson J. Elliott, Harry S.
Havens, Earl D. Rhode, Carl W. Tiller, Rodger L. Greene, Raymond L. Walters, Seymour Blum,
Russell Chapin, James Finch, Paul H. O’Neill, and John B. Connally
[Recording begins while the conversation is in progress]
     Revenue sharing
          -Work of staff
          -Legislators

             -Mayors, county officials
             -State government officials
             -Special revenue sharing
                   -Education
                   -A task force
             -President’s meetings
             -Meeting on special revenue sharing
     Government reorganization
         -Work of staff
              -President’s appreciation

     Gifts
             -Secretaries
             -Golf balls

     Government reorganization
         -Forthcoming press briefing
               -President’s role

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:20 am

     President’s schedule

     President’s location
          -Cabinet Room

The President, et al. left at 11:25 am

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I said to the legislative leaders after whoever presented this presentation, I know that you're carrying a serious recommendation on this, and it's enormous.
It's easy to say, of course, it's a counter-recommendation.
I wouldn't know if you divided it up.
You just got to get the mayors and county officials and state government officials to agree.
That's not easy to say, but that shows you how the magnitude of our problems, we call that easy.
Uh, the next thing was a special revenue.
And then the Secretary of State talked to me about how she was going to take it.
And of course, we still got the educational account, which is the policy of the lab.
I know that the task force is working day and night to get that out.
And I thought that all of those messages, remember we started with the easiest ones, which of course was the legal one.
I mean, I mean, everything was, it was already packed with special recommendations, so we threw that out first, and then on the scale, finally we were going to end up with a solution.
But I'm aware of the fact that the most difficult task within the government was to move on from this reorganization strategy.
And we just saw, you couldn't have been there, but we saw 9-11 presented.
We all realized that all of you must have gone through all the negotiations and writing.
The word changes so here and there.
And the timeline.
And also, what I've heard, the laws of the powers of the Senate.
The most great thing about all of this work.
Would you agree, Secretary?
You started all this, and that's the part of me that says all of this work.
You've done a good job.
You've done an incredible job.
I listened to Bill.
He's been my whole last night trying to get prepared for this morning.
And I must say, I can imagine having gone through this door and saying, I mean, what else?
what they really meant to do to separate all this out.
Just unbelievable.
Well, I'd say if we were going to get them all paid, we'd have to stand in a table to get one of these pens.
Where is it?
I'm sorry.
I didn't tell you I got married.
I mean, you could get one of those to take home, so this is where you really were.
And you have one of those for your papers, right?
So thank you very much.
That's all I've got to say.
Are you ready to check in?
Yes, sir.
All right.
Here we go.
I'll be out.
I'll say a few words and then you escape.
Thank you.
He calls