Nixon, Laird & Johnson on Military promotions and Race relations

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Well, if you'd like to sit down here.

I've got a picture, I understand.

This is a very good man.

Well, he did take one job and make another.

Well, we've got another list coming up to you, Mr. President, with black Brigadier Generals, but we're holding it up because I thought it was better to have a little separation between the Navy and... Yeah, and I think you've got to be a little careful about that.

Right.

Well, I think we'll let the conclusion with you about five minutes.

Okay, I'll talk first.

I'll let you know.

Well, the important thing, which I'm sure is to both Secretary and Secretary Cheney are talking about, is to recognize the security that we've got, the security we've got together.

in going into the Navy.

I mean, our percentages are relatively low there, as you know.

It's a fine career.

The Navy, of course, is quite an organization.

The same thing is true with

here and here and here, like it is.

And coming from California, I don't know your background, but I can tell you what I've been able to do.

I think the, I think, I think there's a drastic thing that does indicate that the armed services, this administration, and so forth, this opportunity,

All the way.

You proved it, right?

You got California, the Civil Service Commission, the first Civil Service Commission.

You're a first-class officer.

Yes, sir.

Four times.

The first-class of us.

Civil Service.

Here in California.

In California, you were the first Negro warrant officer in the Marine Corps.

You were.

You were a Marine.

Well, I'm actually well qualified for the Navy.

The Marines were sort of taking over the Navy, Mr. President.

Well, we've always felt that the Navy was part of the Marine Corps.

That's right.

We always have said that.

Well, you've done a good job.

I'm pleased to be a friend.

Oh, yes, I'm very pleased.

We talked this started, we talked over lunch, if you recall, one time.

And then, of course, you make the search.

What was the man best suited for the job?

Johnny has unusual requirements for this particular job in view of his civil service experience.

His interest in drugs, which you mentioned.

All right, let me answer this with the speculation with regard to the report I signed or will sign today.

You know, the black camera thing.

Do you think we should perhaps bring him in some time?

How does that work?

That takes a long time.

Well, it'll take a while, Mr. President.

You'll have to, of course, ask for the Senate.

It went to the Senate, I think, this morning.

Yes, sir.

It went to the Senate this morning.

Where is he?

He's coming back on his frigate from...

from Westpac.

He'll be in San Diego probably within the next two or three days.

But he will not actually be propped for a while.

You see, his number won't come up for quite a while.

Now, we do as, oh, I said, as Secretary Lennon said, we, Fox, wait till it comes up.

Go ahead.

I mean, I wish it comes up before we make something out of it.

I had a meeting announcement.

The Navy has a different procedure than the Air Force and the Army on propping, but why don't you tell them about that?

What we do is, we are limited, you know, to 302 animals.

When we put them in a cabin,

selectee for admiral in an Athens villa, we so-called frock him.

He can wear the uniform, doesn't get the pay.

So we have a lot of, several people around that use admiral's card.

Not getting the pay.

Well, I think the time you're gonna bring is when you put the, that thing on.

Don't you think so?

What do you think?

What do you want to do?

You, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you.

if it could be done in connection with all the others, I think to kind of try it out too much, right?

And with the other animals.

That's right.

In other words, we, for instance, we have a very good idea.

We could have two or three sometime, but I think it'd be a good idea to bring them over here, Mr. President.

Well, yeah, but why don't you add a couple of other animals so I make the same.

I think it's a very good thought.

Don't you agree?

I do.

Because that way it doesn't appear you just started selecting them out.

Right.

Because Chevrolet doesn't.

We can work something out.

Maybe in about four or five months.

This would be all right in a few months.

Because they won't be pressed.

Okay.

Whenever you're ready, we'll...

Well, actually, congratulations.

Thank you for your work in civil service.

Thank you.

We're replacing you with a woman now.

I saw that.

I hope she does all right.

But that's right.

There are a lot of women in civil service.

We think that we're fortunate to have you.

I'm a fan of your qualifications in here.

I think the important thing to bear in mind is that we, well, of course, we want to be sure that we have a proper presentation of all groups in society that Secretary Laird and Secretary Chigby both selected you because of your record, and not because you're black.

I think that's a very important thing for you to know, and that's what I've considered.

In fact, if we were to take that thing, and they hadn't had it on there, they didn't have it on there, but of course I knew, because I knew the kind of Negro or whatever it is, they'd still put you in.

Right, John?

That's our philosophy throughout.

Whether it's an affluent or an assistant secretary or whatever it is, we look at the qualifications of the man, and if he's got it, in fact, I was going to get the job.

Looking at that ball over there, James is doing, he's doing a good job.

He told me that.

He goes out there and makes little speeches about it.

Got him out on the college campuses now, Mr. President.

I've seen him out at the University of Wisconsin.

He took that whole field house over.

Probably one of the best speakers in the whole... Got him out every day.

He was on a station this morning.

What is his rank?

Well, he is a Brigadier General.

Right.

And when he was brought in as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, we promoted him at that time.

Yeah, very general.

What does he work in?

He works mainly, he's got the POW assignment.

He has the POW assignment and he has a public affairs role, play over there.

He talks on our programs.

And he's out all the time.

I took him to the National Council of Churches with me.

I had to speak to him, Mr. President.

It is a big thing in Chicago.

So I brought Chappie with me.

And I had him lead a few hymns before I gave my speech.

And he did just terrific.

He got up there and led those hymns and without any accompaniment or anything else.

And I said, we're not taking the Navy or Army band anymore with us.

We just bring chassis.

There you are, sir.

Why don't you just be over there?

Oh, well, you know, let me just tell you one thing, John.

I know you're interested in this, you know, the whole site.

I noticed that Washington Post took it all on the ground.

They said, we failed, man.

I said, let me tell you an interesting thing.

Did you know, and this is what interests you, man.

Johnny Burns saw me the next, saw me, and he said, no, Wilbur Mills, I also hit the same line about the idea that we, that our program was not simply to add the working poor, but it was also to get people involved in welfare roles if they were workers of work.

And he said that made, Wilbur Mills said that speech probably saved the welfare program in the House.

And Russell Long was here two days ago, and he said to that speech that probably got the votes that we needed.

He said, that justifies, he said, his wife occurred and said, now, he said, now, you know, Russell, after I read what the president said in Williamsburg and, of course, here, he said, I don't see why you disagree with me.

Russell said, well, I said, I don't think he does.

First Russell, then I said.

Yeah, I know that, right.

Mal, you sit here.

You sit here.

Thank you.

You sit there.

There we are.

I got worried that I was being wrong.

I said, you can have it.

It's better than anything.

I said, you can have it.

You can have it.

Thank you very much.

5, 9, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.

So here's one of your other words.

10-9-9-9 10-9-9-9 10-9-9-9

They think they will lose.

I'd rather lose.

The Air Force Association is meeting here tonight.

I'll get the First Marine Division here faster.

Who is going out there?

Because I assume that the combat will go on.

Yes, the combat will go on.

John Warner is going.

We have a speech hearing environment here, which is a very important environmental speech.

I think it was a long time ago, as I understand it.

And so we've had a substitution of orders that's... Well, we're sort of maneuvering around because... Whatever you want.

Whatever you want.

If you...

Okay.

You may go.

No.

Yes, I was trying to... See, originally, when they called, I said, well, I've got this speech in my hands.

And so I said, John.

And then John said, well, I'll take the speech if you want.

And I said, well, I'd sort of like to go.

But, well, we might have...

Well, I think as part of the exposure for the Navy, it's better for you to make the environmental speech, but you decide that in your Navy shot.

Yeah, you'll get a bigger exposure on its own as well as part of the other show.

Because what the Navy is doing in the environmental area is very important, and the changes that have been made, we're not getting enough credit for.

That's the only politics we'll talk to.

Don't worry about what they're thinking about, except the good of the name, what they're thinking about, gentlemen.

Rhode Island's what matters.

Okay?

All right.

I'll give you a paper with the two of them.

Thank you very much.

Nixon, Laird & Johnson on Military promotions and Race relations

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on April 28, 1971

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