Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 499-022
Date: Friday, May 14, 1971 at 12:44 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bolling, Landrum; Trueblood, D. Elton; Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie"); Bull, Stephen B.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/499-022

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:05] That's the first thing we want to do.
[0:29] I think the first thing we really wanted to say was that you ought to have some contact with some Quakers who are not... You have to get your heels out.
[0:38] Sure, I understand.
[0:39] I don't mind the ones that get out, because basically the Quakers, the real ones, not the new ones, but the real ones, like my mother, she was a developed person.
[0:50] My mother and grandmother completely disapproved of my going into the war.
[0:52] I know that completely.
[0:54] Well, you don't tell us.
[0:55] I've been all around the area.
[1:07] Back in the times when I was a correspondent, I tried to go to Russia, and I couldn't go.
[1:18] Did you see Bill Moyers, though?
[1:21] Oh, yeah, I was reading, sir.
[1:22] Bill Moyers?
[1:23] No.
[1:25] He made this trip around the country writing up his impressions about America and helped a lot of people he interviewed.
[1:46] That's all true.
[1:48] I was afraid you hadn't seen it.
[1:52] It's just recently out.
[1:54] It's quite amazing.
[1:55] It's very much like it.
[1:57] And her grandmother and mine.
[2:05] Now...
[2:07] This is great.
[2:08] I thought this would be delightful to you.
[2:10] I hope so.
[2:13] Now... That's very nice.
[2:15] Now, when I'm here, and you don't feel terribly hurt, I want to tell you all about Lincoln and Mrs. Grimes.
[2:27] You know, she was with President in that prayer.
[2:31] And then there was this wonderful correspondence.
[2:36] And all of this bears very much upon your present life.
[2:42] I wondered if you'd like to borrow that copy.
[2:45] Now this is 1862, in the darkest period of the Civil War, when she came.
[2:54] This letter is 1864.
[2:56] Yes, that should use it.
[2:57] Yeah, just in case.
[2:58] They kept up the correspondence after.
[3:00] They kept up the correspondence.
[3:01] And you'll guess he did it all by hand.
[3:08] Those were the days.
[3:10] And you see, these are some of the most powerful things in the world.
[3:15] And he speaks of this terrible war which no man could make and no man can destroy.
[3:26] That's one of the most brilliant phrases he ever said.
[3:29] What?
[3:30] No man can what?
[3:31] Which no man could make.
[3:31] Surely he intends so great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make and no mortal could bear.
[3:51] Well, I don't want to...
[3:56] I'll borrow from the return to you.
[3:57] How's that?
[3:58] That's a long phrase, isn't it?
[3:59] As a matter of fact, just coincidentally, it happened to be read to me
[4:06] And I'm writing a book on Lincoln.
[4:11] Of course, I told you that's a letter.
[4:13] Now, here is a letter to you from the pastor of the First Friends Reading English, which you can read sometime.
[4:25] Here are Landrum's beautiful letter of support.
[4:38] Here are Landrum's two statements from Russia and Israel.
[4:42] You see, just come back.
[4:44] I was in Israel and in Cairo.
[4:44] I've made many trips in the last three years to Israel and Cairo.
[4:48] We've had very intense discussions and I've kept very close in touch with them.
[4:52] representatives all around the circle yeah it's been for us most of them what we're trying to do is
[5:04] the messengers of hope, but also, in this case, the bearers of bad news.
[5:22] Sure.
[5:22] I have to tell the Israeli readers, in some cases, you know, every time I go back and forth, they walk the other side of the edge.
[5:25] Of course.
[5:25] And I say, you know, if you insist on this particular point, I don't think you're going to get these.
[5:27] You're never getting some of this.
[5:28] I can't tell you what to do.
[5:29] I'm not trying to be an intermediary.
[5:29] I'm not trying to be a great editor.
[5:30] I'm only trying to study this problem and communicate back and forth.
[5:32] One of the biggest jobs we have now, frankly, is communicating with other Jewish women in this country.
[5:34] a tremendous amount of time.
[5:40] They're so unreasonable.
[5:40] Oh, good Lord, you have no idea.
[5:43] Oh, I do have an idea.
[5:43] I know.
[5:44] The point is that what they have to understand is that, and I've talked on cold turkey, I've talked on sport now,
[5:50] You know, they always play American politics, and they think we're always watching them.
[6:07] All of us are going to have to do what we want.
[6:12] I won't.
[6:12] I will not put the interests of the American Jewish community above the interests of this country.
[6:14] I will not do it.
[6:14] The other thing is that I tell them, I say, now look here, you fellas have a bargaining position now that you'll never have.
[6:17] It's going to get worse.
[6:17] Because Egyptians can learn to fight.
[6:18] I said, ignore the Vietnamese and learn to fight Egyptians.
[6:19] And eventually they'll elude you.
[6:20] I said, you can live in this year, you can die a little bit now, but in the end, they'll beat you.
[6:26] So make your peace while you're at it.
[6:27] Great.
[6:27] And they don't see it.
[6:30] But it's a belief.
[6:31] I talk to them.
[6:33] You just keep telling that because I believe it thoroughly.
[6:35] It's a narrative.
[6:36] I am not.
[6:36] Let me tell you.
[6:38] If there's one thing, whatever happens in the next few weeks, there's some good news for you.
[6:41] The next few weeks, I can assure you, on several fronts, but at least on one particular.
[6:47] But let me tell you, whatever happens on the mid-East,
[6:50] And I'm the first man who could say this is a possible exception of Eisenhower, who had said it was it.
[6:59] But I will not allow the Jewish lobby in this country to have us create a policy that involves us in a war in the Middle East or
[7:09] keeps us from having the peace to be.
[7:21] We cannot do it.
[7:22] I told you so.
[7:22] That's wonderful.
[7:22] And I'm a friend of these people.
[7:23] Nobody can notice you without being impressed.
[7:24] They're wonderful people.
[7:25] But they've got to start being reasonable.
[7:25] That's wonderful.
[7:26] That's my idea.
[7:40] My idea is where you're coming from.
[7:47] I'll give you a letter of that.
[7:47] Well, thank you.
[7:48] I'll get it for you.
[7:48] Oh, all right.
[7:49] You've got the presidential conference.
[7:49] Oh!
[7:49] You do.
[7:50] Well, I'm going to say we've got something else for you, too.
[7:51] You all have an emotion.
[7:51] You know, she told me I had to write a letter to the assembly service.
[7:53] Right.
[7:53] And I was in that room.
[7:53] Right.
[7:53] And I told the president, I told Senator Page, thank you.
[7:55] Yeah, you'd like to do it another time, would you?
[8:14] Yes, absolutely.
[8:15] You said all that?
[8:15] No.
[8:15] You got a friend?
[8:15] You got a friend?
[8:16] I've heard it earlier.
[8:16] Yes, I do.
[8:16] Give him the gold.
[8:17] That's great.
[8:17] Seal it.
[8:17] Seal it.
[8:18] Presidential signature.
[8:18] Oh, what a party.
[8:19] Somebody's just going to give $10,000 to the college.
[8:20] I sent the gold.
[8:20] Well, if he makes it $20,000.
[8:21] Okay, now.
[8:21] I know what it is to write money all night long, you guys.
[8:41] What's your problem?
[8:41] Put it right in the handbag.
[8:42] I know the right way.
[8:42] All right.
[8:42] Now, when you do the same, you've got to make it a computer term.
[8:43] All right.
[8:44] Now, when I'm back...
[8:44] I don't even... You've spoken a term before.
[8:45] It's yours.
[8:45] I heard your words say that you'd show me the thinking room when I come.
[8:47] Yeah, well, I'm writing a book on thinking.
[8:48] Well, good.
[8:48] As a matter of fact, uh...
[8:49] Whenever, whenever you want to go to the country deadline.
[8:56] Oh, I've got an idea on that.
[8:57] I'm going to go to the park.
[8:58] I'm going to go to the park.
[8:59] When he comes.
[9:01] And we want you because we've only had one quaker so far.
[9:03] And I think we would like to have you.
[9:04] Yeah, we'd like to have you at the fall.
[9:05] Perhaps the summer's not a good time.
[9:15] Just let me go get this crowd.
[9:18] But we've got everything to fill it up this time.
[9:20] If I can go on October 10th, we'll give you a tour.
[9:21] October.
[9:21] Tell the people.
[9:21] There's a meeting with the president on October 13th.
[9:24] Bye.
[9:24] There's a meeting in October.
[9:25] Bye.
[9:25] Thank you.
[9:25] And Senator Henry, Senator.