Conversation 490-011

TapeTape 490StartTuesday, May 4, 1971 at 10:04 AMEndTuesday, May 4, 1971 at 10:12 AMTape start time01:13:43Tape end time01:21:23ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Scott, Hugh;  Ford, Gerald R.;  Arends, Leslie C.;  MacGregor, Clark;  Klein, Herbert G.;  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOval Office

President Nixon met with Republican congressional leadership, including Hugh Scott and Gerald Ford, to coordinate the administration’s messaging on key domestic and economic issues. The discussion focused on framing the recent mass arrests of anti-war protesters as a necessary measure to maintain public order against vandalism. Additionally, the President urged the leaders to publicly support the Lockheed loan guarantee as a critical initiative for protecting peacetime jobs, aiming to preempt political opposition from Democratic rivals.

Lockheed CorporationAnti-war protestsLaw and orderEconomic policyRepublican PartyRevenue sharing

On May 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, Clark MacGregor, Herbert G. Klein, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:04 am to 10:12 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 490-011 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 490-11

Date: May 4, 1971
Time: 10:04 am - 10:12 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, Clark MacGregor, and
Herbert G. Klein; this recording begins at an unknown time while the meeting is in progress.

[Transcript #1: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at an unknown time during the transcribed portion.

     President's previous meeting with Republican leadership
           -Administration's domestic program
           -Revenue sharing
                 -Public relations
                      -Leaders statement
          -Lockheed
                 -Leaders comments

                -John B. Connally and President's remarks
                -Employment
                      -President’s view
                            -“Peacetime jobs”
                -Ziegler's possible statement
                -Statement by leadership
                -Connally’s forthcoming statement
                -Birch Bayh, John V. Tunney, Hubert H. Humphrey, and
                                                                   Conv.
                                                                     Edmund
                                                                         No. 490-24
                                                                             S. Muskie
                                                                                    (cont.)
           -Supersonic Transport [SST]

[Transcript #2: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

     [General conversation]

     Klein's appearance on "Morning Show"

Scott, Ford, Arends, MacGregor, Ziegler and Klein left at 10:12 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.

and also that the other representatives of the government, that they had a greater strength.
And that the vandalism was to be the flaw, and that the demonstration was counterproductive, and unfortunately had an impact in the works of the community.
Thank you.
I was out home over the weekend, Mr. President, and everybody said,
They hoped there would be firm action.
There was.
There was.
One iota of difference.
The people in the country want firm action, and there was, and I think we ought to.
8,000 arrests.
That's right.
Well, the whole idea that we're not going to let them break the peace at home, I just keep that one of the things that I'm trying to repeat and repeat and repeat.
The other thing is to make a demonstration for peace abroad, but they cannot break the peace at home.
They can't say they're for peace and come out.
That's right.
in the absolute heart of our lives, I think it's the hypocrisy of our never-ending friends, those bastards who are really in trouble.
The other thing is that I would take a line that we had a long discussion with regard to our domestic program, and that we are, that we're, once you say take the line, we're going to read, make an allotted one.
We are sharing the country's sport, and it's time for the Congress to start reflecting the country.
Absolutely.
And for back-out points that were made in the meeting, I would suggest on Mayor's Hayes.
Stay off of him.
Stay off of the other.
You know, quite a lot.
Lockheed, I think you can indicate that, I think you understand, well, in the work of Yao, there's a question about that.
A very strong impression was made by the Secretary of the Treasury and the President.
They indicated they would force, they attached to it.
the reaction of the leaders generally was favorable.
And they just flip it off like that, you can't help it, you know?
Yeah, what this really involves is jobs.
It's jobs, and at a time,
for the war and peace.
These are peacetime jobs.
These are not there.
This is to keep Lockheed alive and make peacetime jobs in America.
What the hell are we gonna make?
Huh?
Peacetime jobs.
War and peace.
You said earlier that you hadn't made it this evening, and it's gonna be this evening now that you're done promoting it.
Sure.
And we're gonna go on.
We have to.
Well,
I understand the decision will be made shortly.
The president and the secretary made a strong case for it.
You anticipate that without
just making the decision might be favorable.
You may, you and Jerry, want to say it's yours, the president, to move it in this direction.
I think probably if you, why don't you indicate that you would give us support?
If the leaders would say we would support it, that's even a, you would support it because of the jobs.
If you would say that, that would be good, that would be good.
I mean, the way that was written, and then when it finally has to go out and now appeal the notes, and he can say, well, the leader said, well, we heard support on the job.
Let's take the issue away.
Good God, that son of a bitch crashed into Tony and Huber, Humphrey, and Muskie, all saying, we're for Lockheed.
Let's say the Republican leader's strong.
Now, you supported SST, and you said, you said, well, go ahead, but keep it as it is.
You urged the leadership urge generally.
uh, over, almost over a month, almost unanimously earned support.
That's a very good line.
Good line.
We've got a very tiny intelligence trail Friday telling these little nasties, you are not going to stop the government.
You are inexpressibly rude, and any attempt to progress people from getting rid of them to that work and earning a day's pay is bound to defeat your objectives.
That's a tiny intelligence.
We've got to get back to the hypocrisy of these people.
I mean, after all, Muskie was on the platform with Reddy Davis on Earth Day.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
And so they said, oh, well, it's all right, kids.
It's all right to be trashy a little, but don't puncture my tire.
It's not that bad.
Now, when they come up Wednesday, you know, to your place, you'll have a little fun.
They're coming up Wednesday.
That's Congress Day.
That's it.
Most of them won't guess it.
You don't think so.
There's another.
The main point is that the argument that says, well, the country supports the president's leadership in trying to bring this order to an end in a way that we can have a lasting peace.
Those little matters.
I couldn't help but put a needle into some of the hypocrisy on the SST, on the blockade matter of the president, because that's where I come from.
I'm sorry.
Well, I think the Reagan Davis thing is important.
They were supporting Reagan Davis on April 24th.
And once they begin to trash engaged vandals, then they have the first ones to criticize running things, not because of the vandals, but because it's counterproductive to their December 31, 71, it's the wrong reason.
See, the wrong reason.
Oh, well.
They think that it's hurting the cause.
Now, what the hell?
Vandalism is wrong, period.
And it's the same way today.
It's the same group of vandals.
Well, here's the boss.
You know that I've forced two of those live victims from the farm rake to admit that they discussed this burger with nine men and perished.
I came up when I did it.
Goodbye.
Yeah, okay.
Herbie did a fine job on the morning show.
Thanks again.