Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 575-004
Date: Friday, September 17, 1971 at 4:24 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; White House operator; Burger, Warren E.; Bull, Stephen B.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/575-004

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[1:25:03] As you know, we received at 3.30 the letter of retirement from Hugo Black and Justin Black.
[1:25:40] I will then be asked, did we anticipate this?
[1:25:47] No, we did not.
[1:26:06] I'm going to say the Chief Justice called earlier than 3 o'clock to say a messenger was on the way over, and I'll put a little dramatic, and it arrived here at 3.37.
[1:26:13] Another thing you can say is that the President is in his true appearance anymore.
[1:27:17] Let me ask you on a personal basis that I don't know quite how to handle this, as to whether you think that perhaps...
[1:29:24] Oh, you mean the announcement regarding the retirement?
[1:29:29] I think it's going to be, it's almost inevitable, it's already, it's already attached to the press corps today.
[1:29:33] You know, they apparently got to, they must be something off to the thing.
[1:29:38] Yeah, yeah.
[1:29:46] And it's, let me say that on the successor of that campaign,
[1:29:53] under basis that I will want to have a problem with you at the proper time.
[1:30:42] Ja.
[1:31:18] Is that on Chief Justice yet?
[1:31:20] Well, I think Attorney General's worked it all out.
[1:31:21] I think we should just go ahead with it.
[1:31:23] He says you should announce it.
[1:31:24] You're sure he doesn't?
[1:31:25] And I'm going to go call the Attorney General again right now.
[1:31:27] All right, fine.
[1:31:27] So, go ahead and do it.
[1:31:28] Mr. Thompson, I think so.
[1:31:28] All right.
[1:31:29] And I'll double-check that we... Now, I know that I... Now, there's two other quick things that I'm going to get the guy to do.
[1:31:33] They will ask...
[1:31:52] When do you expect, how soon?
[1:31:54] Well, the president has just been informed, unless he will look for the best qualified man.
[1:31:59] Next question.
[1:31:59] Does the president intend to appoint a strict constructionist?
[1:32:02] Gentlemen, the president is going to look for the best qualified man.
[1:32:05] Well, this is just saying, I would say no, I'm not going to comment on that, except for the president's best constructionist.
[1:32:09] No, he is going to be strict constructionist.
[1:32:11] I would say, I'm not going to comment.
[1:32:36] Best qualified man.
[1:32:39] In other words, I will not...
[1:32:44] I will not limit it.
[1:32:46] I will not limit it geographically.
[1:32:48] I will just say he will look all over the country for the best qualified man.
[1:32:51] Did I say that?
[1:32:52] Well...