Nixon, Haldeman & Connally on Economic Policy and Wage and Price Controls

4:06our own momentum on this and not letting the, we have created a possibility for an attack now on the whole economic thing.
4:13The briefs, you know, the inspiration of the briefs and what are we going to do next.
4:20Right.
4:20And you've got Congress back and it's ready, it's clear, the Democrats are sort of saying, you know, the rich man's tax is flat.
4:28And the, uh, uh,
4:31We should keep the freeze on.
4:32If you kept the freeze on, they would have said you should have a plan to take it off.
4:36So I don't think we've done anything wrong.
4:39I think we spent quite a lot of time talking about it.
5:03because we need some service, some ombudsman types now so that people, so that we're saying things publicly and so that people who want to talk have a chance to talk so that we're both telling and listening, hearing and listening.
5:10And we've got enough, I think, going that we're in good shape, I think, and I think we're
5:41some of it already going and some of it well laid out to start with and a recognition all the way around with the need to do it if there's any developments or any need to convince people.
5:48Arthur is going to Europe with Connelly on Monday and has asked to see you prior to his departure.
5:52The question is whether you want to see him tomorrow morning.
6:40Do you want to do anything?
6:42One possibility is to outside if you wanted to.
7:22until two to ten tonight.
7:22You will check out the situation regarding the grave?
7:23Yes, sir.
7:24I have not done it.
7:24I think there's no problem.
7:24I think he's glad to go to the city.
7:25I'm sure.
7:25I would think he would, too.
7:26Yeah, I just wonder...
8:17decision in terms of just simply informing, you know, I didn't want to see what was here.
8:19So, you know, we've got a situation where they basically have an impression, an assumption.
8:21It's not just an assumption, but it's the
8:48See what I mean?
8:49Yeah.
8:49And it isn't enough.
8:49You've got to...
9:19Boy, that's pure truth.
9:20And that is absolutely clear.
9:50I don't work with any level.
9:52He doesn't have to talk to just me or just Earthman or just us.
9:53His business is all ours.
9:54He was really very irritating to me.
9:56He's trying to come in to get his own ideas.
10:40I was watching him during it.
10:42He was practically asleep before the thing started.
10:43I was so tired.
10:44He locked up Stravinsky.
10:44I said, do you do this stuff?
10:45He said, no, I'm sure I do.
10:46I love those drums.
10:46So I locked up Stravinsky.
10:47I said, do you do this stuff?
11:18and we find out who the prime minister is.
11:50Yeah, but I think it's quite possible it was cleared with the shelter or whatever he was getting input from and not run by a cop.
11:53I think there's a real possibility that that was.
12:15back on clearances also and did talk with the company.
12:16That's why I want to check with Greg also because he did check with me before, but there was only a thousand in the package back when he left at that time.
12:20But the day before that, he did check with the company.
12:22So I talked to him on the phone.
12:23He said he had talked with the company.
12:24Not the day before the speech, but back when he was working.
12:48You see, what I meant is, Bob, we have a special problem with comedy.
13:26Yeah.
13:27Well, even before, let's say we're wrong on that one, he should have been told that that was going to be covered.
13:51because he was on the Hill testifying for an entire day before Ways and Means, and he should have known what was going to come so that he wouldn't say anything contrary to it.
13:55I mean, it might have been very far-fetched, but that's the Phil Rogers argument on the, you know, something or other, the Cambodia or something, that he was up in Tuscany on the track, not knowing what the decision was, making wrong decisions.
14:23It's not critical whether the building's ready or not.
14:25We went and did the writing, and now that it's done, it's time to set up the day, something like that, so that we can move it around and extend it.
14:49And his daughter, Lucy, actually was still a puppy.
15:08Very good.
15:08It was all, they used many of the applause and yes, they used the applause and they, I don't know how they did it, they must have juxtaposed something because they created, see yesterday was creating a impression of a standing ovation on one of the points which they must have just cut to the end of the speech just because there was no standing ovation during the speech, I don't believe it was in that.
15:40And they carried the key segments of the speech with a lead-in and a wrap-up.
15:41The biblical reception and the key points were what came through.
16:10Nobody hit it hard.
16:12Even, you know, I can't, he said, well...
17:07You've got all the initiative.
17:08You've got on the TV asking for it.
17:09Now, whatever they do is, where's the, I noticed that some of the, some of the
17:44you haven't said that no work is degrading.
17:45Because some work is.
17:45And I know you hit you on the, you know, telling people to get off the welfare rolls.
17:47You know, they should refuse jobs.
17:48Don't you know that there's 6.2% unemployment?
17:49There's a lot of people looking for jobs.
17:49And others aren't jobs.
17:50What are you saying to us?
18:13is for you to tell them you need to work when there aren't jobs for anyone.
18:18Of course, that's totally irrelevant.
18:20It's a welfare if you aren't looking for jobs.
18:24People looking for jobs
19:12When we were talking the other day, I guess it was in this office, when you were raising the point of adequate staffing, he said he hadn't gone into detail on the staffing.
19:15But in thinking about it, you ought to know that he's got a hell of a lot of people.
19:17See, he's got rid of one of his hacks.
19:45he's got
20:01PR guy that we had as advanced staff, we pulled him off and moved him in.
20:03He's been working on other things and he's shipped over.
20:04And then Pat O'Donnell was his scheduling guy that's doing the, Nick really touched on pulling people around.
20:07He's working a little over half time on it.
20:24And, of course, Sapphire and Muller, these people are helping out.
20:29There are people, and there are good people working on it.
20:32They're bringing Joe Beruti's PR firm in to work with the Citizens Committee organization they've got.
20:55He's got me through.
20:56He's, he, well, definitely.
21:29Now, I mean, you've got to take a lot of it in here.
21:30You're on a smaller group here.
21:31You see, we have a philosophical difference with Schultz on this.
21:33Schultz put, and I agree with you on assumptions, but I mean, we count on him in our politics.
21:54It's very much really against any control's fault.
21:55He just wants to, he's just a hard-headed, you know what I mean?
21:56He just doesn't think we should have felt bad.
21:57We didn't have a breeze at all.
21:58You know, however.
22:50Boom.
23:15So we will announce it all on the program.
23:17Now I think the thing to do
24:10because he said you have he goes you're in the position or could get you're not in it if you could get over time and will in the position of a general public
24:37We all agree that we shouldn't do that for a while, though, until we really know we will never.
24:40The worst thing you can do is announce that they cannot do it.
24:43Because that really don't make it something that I know, I know, I know, I don't.
24:47At the end of the day,
25:18by the end of this month we've got to have a plan.
25:19I'd rather not say that as of a certain date we can't make these uncertain people.
25:21You see, before a certain time that means whether we're going to crash around and find something before a certain time.
25:24It's better to end it this way.
25:41We're only here next week.
25:42The plans will be finalized and then the announcement.
25:43Yeah.
25:43Yeah.
25:43Yeah.
25:43Yeah.
25:43Yeah.
25:44Yeah.
26:29I understand what his judgment is on that point.
26:30But I think the most important thing is that we have indicated that we know
26:57and you know what you're doing.
26:58This is so much, you see.
27:00It's not, and also, let's face it, that's what all people usually do.
27:03It's really not the style that I follow.
27:04Everybody knows goddamn well that I've insulted a whole hell of a lot of people in order to find out what I'm doing.
27:09And we know that this is all wind up dressing them in just pure shit.
27:11Now that's a, now you have to give us some sense of reality.
27:14I know we are, we are.
27:59the labor guys will want to have some sort of a thing that will not be too workable.
28:03And the agriculture guys are going to fix the problems.
28:04And I know it doesn't match up.
28:05And it's a body of work.
28:06Agriculture guys will 100% bear it.
28:07But could I say that I suggest that they have a, I think that the stuff that has come out of the Congress today
28:30I don't want to be tired of the day, but they know they have to have it before October 15th.
28:35And I do.
28:35And if something, rather than putting it to a forced draft,
29:04I do this.
29:05I do this.
29:5212.
29:53Do you want it before that or after that?
29:54That's a Soviet thing.
29:54Yeah.
29:55I don't know.
29:55I just didn't do it before.
29:55I mean, it's a, it's a, it's a, I just didn't do it and have the Soviet thing wipe it out.
30:38Like I said, you can tell it was meant to look like that, but it's true.
30:40I thought I said it first.
30:41Well, I am good.
31:05The reason I say that, Bob, is that I know the – I know that the – and much more sensitive than our group here is as to the desperate position that Democrats are in.
31:10They have to get out and create – see, their idea is nothing to do – see, George Bush didn't understand this, I'm sorry, last time.
31:35They're trying to create the impression that two things.
31:36One, that, well, we just went a long way to Brighton Street.
31:37And everybody says, they're for it.
31:38Let's see.
31:38We were for it.
31:39And now, you see, they're fighting to get us in position.
31:40We're there for Brighton Street.
31:41And we are just getting rid of it.
31:41Do you get my point?
31:42This is what George didn't understand.
31:42And did your people in there understand?
31:43Yeah.
31:43All right.
31:44Now, if that is the case, the thing to do is to pull that right out from under the
32:06And it would appear then that they can force us into a program that I've already announced we're going to do.
32:11You see that we were, we had to leave Christchurch and I said we'd have a
32:34Thank you, but they didn't get to that.
32:35Well, don't underestimate it there.
32:38Just in case they'll make it, they can get it.
32:39I don't know if it's going to be hard to do.
32:41Don't forget all that stuff about my mom.
32:42That bunch of people whining about this presidential action wants to freeze.
32:44We must not let them even leave any crap in the door.
32:46This has nothing to do with
33:01It has to do with the politics.
33:02Only the politics.
33:02That's all.
33:33At the time it was announced, did you see my wife?
33:34I thought you didn't hear her.
33:34I thought you didn't talk to Colin.
33:35I didn't call him.
33:36But there's no problem.
33:36It'll be handled properly.
33:57We have to come.
33:57We have to come eventually.
33:58We've got to.
33:59We've got to.
34:24of what we already have.
34:24And I think maybe Mills and that may have a little bit of a criticism.
34:25Don't you think so?
34:26No.
34:26But the reason, Bill, that, uh,
34:53Well, to be honest and say so.
34:54Well, I thought it was a little good, but I think we should say, now this is my view, I think we should set it up that we can do it on time.
34:57There's no reason why we can't.
34:58This is the 10th, the 17th, the 20th.
35:23I think it's good.
35:23Isn't the 7th about the best date?
35:24Probably, yeah.
35:247th of the 14th.
35:25And that's part of the race.
35:45And this one, I'm sure this is not all that big.
35:48I mean, a little bit of it isn't going to be particularly good.
35:51But every time you listen to it, you're not going to get a lot of mileage out of it.
35:53It's only the fact you're doing it.
35:54And if you do it on the 7th, why not?
35:58On a Sunday?
35:58Oh.
35:58I mean, it's a good fact, yeah.
36:12But it's a magazine story, so you probably should do it on the cover, so that this is weak and the U.S. students can explain it to you.
36:15Because that's a weak story.
36:16Your therapy was decided before October 15th.
36:17I laugh at that.
36:18That was not therapy.
36:18That was just the one.
36:19Therapy was not set a date now at all to wait a week or two before you set a date.
36:22Never let a good person know.
36:45Okay, I'll tell you what to do.
36:46Let's be confident.
36:47He has a better field of view than you is, but you can get to the top.
36:49You get to the top.
37:47See?
37:47Rather than me.
37:47Yeah.
37:47I think he should.
37:47I think he should say that.
37:48Yes, we have the cause.
37:48We may consider this the cause of the council.
37:49He's the chairman of the council.
37:50He can say that the council will be completing its recommendations and the president has told me he will be making his decision announcing it on October 7th.
38:16I heard it frankly just then.
38:46Why not miss me and talk to Connolly about this?
38:47Of course.
38:47I think he is.
38:47I think we've got to cut a hole.
38:48I see.
38:48Good.
39:02But he felt very strongly that this being a labor group, that Hodgson should be the moderator guy, that the local association, he and Schultz will, of course, be there.
39:11All right.
39:12But Hodgson will say, Mr. President, we've got these leaders here, and so I think you can just, you should simply say you appreciate their coming, and we're getting ready to make our decisions on phase two, and we wanted to get your views.
39:36All right.
39:37Let's start talking.
39:37I'll make the point that basic ground rules that fell out of the press intro.
39:39I told you at the beginning that there will be no press report for the meeting afterwards if this is an off the record.
39:41But that we will be taking notes and
40:25He's here.
40:26Yeah, he's here.
40:27He's here.
40:28All right.
41:22Hello, there's our order.
41:23How do you do, kids?
41:23You want to ask a couple of things?
41:25How many inches of dirt are there?
41:52We want it as smart as we could.
41:53We can help us in this way.
41:53And I'm going to turn the meeting on the 13th.
42:42They're going up into Europe.
42:44That's not a new thing to give us both on market construction because he's going to see more of it.
42:50He's going to see more of it.
43:11and that part of the field is very strong and we have to remain committed to that.
43:13Number two, we ought not to shift.
43:14Excuse me, sir, can I play the people out here?
43:16Yes.
43:16That part of the field is very strong.
43:17We ought not to have all the terms of the term, all the terms of the term, all the terms of the term, all the terms of the term, all the terms of the term,
43:36What did he do?
44:07Can you get up this afternoon and all the good, or is tomorrow morning better for you?
44:12Saturday.
44:21I've missed a bunch of these Japanese.
44:23Tomorrow I have breakfast.
44:26You want to come over after that?
44:28Yes.
44:29We're going to meet with the cost of living council.
44:52If I go, I have to go.
46:32I think that we, I think it's the most important thing is to indicate we know what we're doing.
46:35Now this is my own thinking with me to say now we're gonna complete our consummations, we're completing our consummations, so forth.
46:40And to have you announce you as the head of the cost-relevant council that, and I think that the time to do it would be after your meeting tomorrow, that you would announce that you, that if you could think
47:24How does that sound to you as an approach?
47:29That's fine.
47:30I have no argument with that.
47:31What's the argument against it?
47:32The argument against it, the only real argument against it, is the question of whether we know for sure that we'll be ready for the plan that we're ready to go with.
47:41Well, we are.
47:42It's like getting the announcement out of Camp David.
47:46We have to.
47:47We have.
47:55My mom isn't going to make it any better.
47:58The thing I'll do is to get your ass out and get it done.
48:01Then our internal thing should be that all the work has got to be completed by this September 30th.
48:05September 30th is the date that I have it.
48:07On October 7th is the date of the announcement.
48:10That's fine.
48:10It gives the president a warning if he makes the announcement.
48:16And now we will announce phase two then.
48:51All right, all right, we lose the initiative.
48:53All right, the only thing is that your consultations are not complete.
49:00The only factor is you announce it tomorrow.
49:18a week of follow-up things, a week of implementation, and then the decision.
49:21But that puts the heat on the decision.
49:41Yeah.
49:41Yeah.
49:41Yeah.
50:05Yes, there's a dang boot.
50:06Here, I can do it, man.
50:0790% of the men would have stalled in there so they could walk in.
50:09He's going to let me get there before he gets there.

Nixon, Haldeman & Connally on Economic Policy and Wage and Price Controls

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Also recorded on September 10, 1971

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