Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 603-003
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1971 at 12:23 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary; Cox, Tricia Nixon; Woods, Rose Mary; [Unknown person(s)]
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/603-003

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:26] My ladies and gentlemen, do you think they'd give you a nice hand or not?
[0:48] Oh, sure.
[0:49] With me.
[0:49] Good luck.
[0:50] Those meetings are always great.
[0:55] Everybody's saying that's crazy and all that stuff.
[1:21] Hold on.
[1:21] Yeah, yeah.
[1:21] Sure.
[1:21] Yeah.
[1:22] And you tend to be speaking without a respectful hearing or addition.
[1:28] Well, which one?
[1:51] I need you to go to one.
[1:54] Where?
[1:56] It's in Oregon, Massachusetts.
[1:59] I can go to Massachusetts now, if it isn't worth your time.
[2:03] Yeah, I'm sorry, I don't know if he's in charge of the room.
[2:10] Well, how are you treating me today?
[2:46] Oh, that's nice.
[2:53] Well, anyway, I go to the Massachusetts, but what other city?
[3:11] You shouldn't come to New York, because I'll be there.
[3:12] But, yeah.
[3:13] I'm going to New York and Chicago, yeah.
[3:13] Well, I don't think maybe you ought to bother to go on there.
[3:15] Yeah, I think maybe that's not where it goes.
[3:16] That's fine.
[3:20] What's that?
[3:25] Just let me check.
[3:37] I'll listen to my desk.
[3:37] I'll see if it's enough.
[3:38] That's really the only one around here today.
[3:41] You know, I guess looking at the Boston area, the chairman is a great friend of ours, maybe, and it would not be the river grounds.
[3:52] They're basically our ground.
[3:52] This is the solution to us.
[3:56] Would you mind going to Boston?
[3:57] Well, go to Boston.
[3:58] Go to Boston, and then you'll see some of our friends, which is not a bad idea.
[4:18] All right, take me below the passages.
[4:25] Well, listen, if you would go to the Boston dinner, would you do that?
[4:39] Of course.
[4:40] Yeah, I think so.
[4:43] The chairman, the chairman is the fellow named Yeager.
[4:45] Well, I know it is.
[4:45] I know, but it's Tom Pappas and all that gang.
[4:46] And you see, he's our great friend.
[4:47] You know what he did for you.
[4:49] And since they have asked, because I just checked with the side, I'd forgotten that they were killing that dinner.
[4:51] You've got, like, Pappas, as you know, and Yeager.
[4:52] And so, would you do that?
[4:53] All right.
[4:59] All right, fine.
[5:04] All right, fine.
[5:08] Great.
[5:09] Well, fine, fine.
[5:11] We'll go to that.
[5:12] Yeah.
[5:18] Yeah, I don't know what your reaction was.
[5:39] I just, I don't know what I've heard.
[5:39] It's pretty horrible.
[5:40] On the other hand, well, the Congress isn't a cost, but I don't think that I've heard anything because I feel that they know we put on a fight, but they blame you, man.
[5:45] That's what you think.
[6:16] Yeah, but it's one of those things, one of those things.
[6:35] No, they won't, they won't.
[6:36] Well, that's the point.
[6:36] That's right, that's right, that's right.
[6:37] I'm taking a little, because basically they want to, they want BK, I mean, BK will not come to power in this matter, so they're choosing to, it's too bad.
[6:45] He said, listen, one thing I wanted to mention to you that I had, I was, I had, I was supposed to, I was supposed to, they should have brought you when I was up there.
[7:07] I should do it.
[7:07] Oh.
[7:07] Oh, yeah.
[7:07] Yeah.
[7:07] Yeah.
[7:07] Well, I thought, I thought it would fit that nicely.
[7:09] Oh, I'm sorry.
[7:09] Not until I, not until I go or something like that.
[7:11] Yeah.
[7:11] Yeah.
[7:13] Uh, I, who?
[7:15] Oh.
[7:15] Oh, he's all right.
[7:18] No, this is, you know, he's bad at all.
[7:30] Yeah, that's all right.
[7:35] I was going to say this.
[7:35] One thing about the, you know, on the Jetstar plane, I think it would, I don't want to get any pressure, you know, the pressures that I get.
[7:43] I just want to check.
[7:43] Maybe, you know...
[7:44] They depressed it a little, can't you see?
[8:01] I can use it and so forth and so on.
[8:05] And of course you know that we have it set up so that you can use it.
[8:08] But I think that you probably ought to maybe be careful.
[8:10] I would say about every three weeks is probably
[8:19] Mr. Fargo was problematized that we have to be concerned about us through home arrest.
[8:32] And we have, we limit that.
[8:34] We have very tight control.
[8:37] The problem that I have, and I just thought of it when you were there yesterday, that well now,
[8:42] One of these press people may pick up the neck when I look here.
[8:51] How all of the blind news and I don't want to go.
[8:52] Now, actually, what we do is we pick up the check on the party at first last there.
[8:54] Anyway.
[8:55] But my point is, any time you come down on a commercial plane, it's fine.
[9:12] That's easy.
[9:13] There isn't to do that.
[9:14] It is not bad.
[9:14] In other words, you get an air shuttle to come down.
[9:18] But on the Jet Star, it isn't that you should have used it.
[9:19] But I think that about once every three weeks, there'd be no problem, whatever.
[9:21] And then you can say, well, I had to come down because of various problems you had.
[9:23] And we're not supposed to sell.
[9:29] Nothing's developed yet, but I was talking to Hughes a little about it, and I said, well, we've had them off, but you know what I mean.
[9:44] And I told you the same thing.
[9:44] They will not, she will crush them.
[9:45] She has very common feelings.
[9:46] She doesn't want to get rid of them.
[9:48] Every three weeks, as I said.
[9:52] If there's anything, for example, where it can happen, then you just come.
[9:58] That's the main competition.
[9:59] If, on the other hand, you're just coming down, I would try to work it out so that you can do that on that basis.
[10:06] You can do that.
[10:14] And you just avoid the problem.
[10:17] And then when you come on commercial, heck, just take commercial planes and come down and pick up a car.
[10:22] It's not bad, but we've been in trouble with, say, some of the service, you know, get you on a, get you, get you to the seat and all that.
[10:27] So, yeah.
[10:27] And, but I use the Jetstar.
[10:28] I don't know if you like it.
[10:28] You're going to have to check it out.
[11:32] I have to get out of California for that Bob Boat thing.
[11:39] And it's the Bob Boat day.
[11:41] It's the Bob Boat Boston on the night.
[11:43] That's the day after Thanksgiving, two days after Thanksgiving.
[11:46] I may go out to fly out on Thanksgiving Day in order to get out there and get a day to rest beforehand.
[12:44] Every three weeks.
[12:51] Well, yeah, but that's right.
[12:52] It also saves you a fucking hammer on your head if you keep working on it.
[13:00] Yeah, she said they were taking care of it.
[13:01] I said, oh shit, what's your problem?
[13:02] They go out and pop on the shuttle and nobody's down there.
[13:03] That's right.
[13:04] And they've got to take care of the service workers for all of us.
[13:09] There's receipts in there.
[13:23] It's wrangling.
[13:23] It's just easier.
[13:24] I mean, they really go out a lot of these days.
[13:25] It's just not quite as convenient.
[13:29] You've got to go when the plane comes.
[13:30] But once they take it all, it's just as easy.
[13:31] I'll give you one example of a good friend of mine.
[13:32] He always takes commercials.
[13:33] It's a great time.
[13:33] He likes that.
[13:34] But here at the Secret Service, we do a jury rights thing every three weeks.
[13:35] They should come.
[13:35] I ain't got to cut down on that.
[13:36] I thought that was better, because they don't come to Camp David every week now.
[13:58] If they had the Camp David thing, they would have said we promised it or something.
[14:00] I don't think they will.
[14:01] I don't think they're going to take a plane every weekend.
[14:02] They won't do that every weekend.
[14:02] They come home.
[14:03] I don't think.
[14:03] Then they shouldn't anyway.
[14:04] Well, she's got a message from the nutritionist.
[14:11] And you did that very, very nicely.
[14:38] I don't think we're all going to be next year.
[15:01] Why are we going to be next year?
[15:02] I don't know.
[15:02] I don't know.
[15:02] I don't know.
[15:03] I don't know.
[15:03] I don't know.
[15:03] I don't know.
[15:03] I don't know.
[15:04] I don't know.
[15:05] I don't know.
[15:07] I don't know.
[15:07] I don't know.
[15:07] I don't know.
[15:11] You know, it's a real problem.
[15:30] I believe we have a problem with Bill Rogers.
[15:31] It's just, you know, it's a bad thing.
[15:32] You know, there's just the State Department thing.
[15:33] You know what I mean?
[15:33] Bill has had his good advice, but it's, uh...
[15:35] He's also known as Henry Rushpot.
[15:43] I don't think any other Secretary of State has ever been more overshadowed by Donald Trump.
[15:50] But Henry also has... Has his courage.
[15:51] And Henry's staff is constantly knocking State Department.
[15:54] You know, and it's...
[15:55] So it's a hard...
[15:56] It's hard.
[15:56] It's hard all the time.
[15:56] The differences are significant.
[15:58] Bill doesn't know a hell of a lot about some of these things.
[16:12] He really doesn't.
[16:13] That's right.
[16:13] And it's a real problem.
[16:14] He likes to be in on things that he doesn't know a hell of a lot about.
[16:20] Oh, that was difficult.
[16:20] I'm working on it.
[16:21] I'm constantly refereeing the battle between the two.
[16:22] Oh, shit.
[16:27] I just want to sit in there.
[16:42] I can't have a...
[16:46] I'm a goddamn stranger.
[16:46] You can't have big games all the time with people.
[16:53] No.
[16:53] You don't accomplish as much.
[16:54] I mean, because everyone you have, they have to have people in it.
[16:55] Conversation becomes more important in the audience.
[16:56] What do you think about the U.S.?
[17:07] Yeah, and they were kicking out the charter member, and they acted like a bunch of cubs.
[17:18] Well, they cheered.
[17:20] They were embarrassed for the United States.
[17:27] That's what I just told them.
[17:27] I appreciate it.
[17:31] No, I bet Crony said push through something and cut him down or something.
[17:51] I hope they did.
[17:51] Yeah, I'm worried.
[17:51] Percy thinks that would be very bad for our cause.
[17:52] Percy, no, we haven't seen Percy for all these years.
[17:55] So they're, uh, they're, well, they're being denied admissions.
[17:56] Uh, a lot of them do.
[17:56] The way I understand it, of course, it's not clear.
[17:58] Before the Congress was ever seen for the show, the show, the show, the show, the performance has hurt itself.
[18:02] Yeah, I think the headlines, if you're in the White House, they hear some thoughts with all the taxpayers and everything.
[18:19] I think everyone I've talked to has just fed up with the, with the, well, yeah, particularly the other, you say that, doing a jig and that sort of thing.
[18:22] Yeah, I don't know why I didn't see it.
[18:23] Did you see it?
[18:24] No, I didn't see it on television, but there was a picture of it in New York, somebody showed me it in New York Times.
[18:26] They're doing a jig and...
[18:29] And people don't like having a million people get in and have to vote and can kick somebody out who's got 14 or 15.
[18:50] Well, that's because half of them are just very civilized.
[18:56] That's what it really must be like.
[18:58] That, I would guess, because I don't think anybody with any real touch or any real discipline would ever do something like that.
[19:23] It has to be.
[19:24] Do you know what kind of practice that is?
[19:25] No, I don't.
[19:25] I can find out.
[19:25] Would you bring it out?
[19:26] Two, one, five, three, six.
[19:30] This is Rose.
[19:33] Could you tell me what time this is next?
[19:50] I'm going to zoom back in.
[19:51] Okay.
[19:52] Around 2.15.
[19:52] Alright, fine.
[19:52] Thank you.
[19:52] 3 is avoiding.
[19:53] 2 is avoiding at 1.
[19:55] I'm probably about 2.15.
[21:07] I hate the message.
[21:10] I really do.
[21:12] I don't mean to scare individuals.
[21:13] I know they're after us.
[21:16] I know they're out to kill us.
[21:17] I don't give a goddamn thing.
[21:20] And at the end of that reason, I get a more respectful press than Johnson does.
[21:40] They believe a lot more than she did, than you and I.
[21:43] But he just constantly sucks it around the clock.
[21:44] And I just believe me, I am not going to give them all that.
[21:45] I'll do something like for the hell of Thomas, that current president.
[21:51] Well, I just wonder what we should do, Rosalind, actually.
[22:13] Well, we've got to find out what's going on.
[22:20] Why don't you come right on in, right on in.
[22:27] It's 6.30 again.
[22:28] Let's go over to Chinatown.
[22:28] You can be there and throw in a few words and so forth.
[22:59] I think the conversation with Chris was good.
[23:12] They should have used the plant every week.
[23:19] It's like, us.
[23:19] Well, I think, you know, and you said it very nicely, and the thing is, I think very truly, because I would bet you, coming up in the campaign, they would be checking the first section.
[23:24] And it's easy for them to tell them they're not here, you know.
[23:27] Now, on the other hand, well, as you know, Don, he would bless his soul, because he was constantly, you know, finding ways to get that back, too.
[23:44] But Don was saying, well, look, this shouldn't be, because I don't know what you know what I mean, and this is a secret service.
[23:48] But it is not right on a solely personal basis.
[23:50] to you who's got the transportation on you about how it is.
[24:05] And I think, I think therefore, our pay, the first class fare, is a very good answer to that, because then the Secret Service is using the money, because they say they prefer it as a security matter, but we pay the first class transportation, so we're not paying it, and then we wouldn't have this problem.
[24:16] I think it's a good point.
[24:16] Do you agree with me?
[24:17] Yes, we do.
[24:17] I have a question.
[24:19] But that's right.
[24:19] They won't even question it.
[24:23] But if they're every weekend, then it will be questioned.
[24:30] And I think you talked about this.
[24:32] You know, I'm sure that that was... You did it the other time.
[24:39] I'm glad you mentioned it.
[24:40] I didn't want to misuse it.
[24:41] But let me tell you the background.
[24:42] The background...
[24:47] They were really, I think it was a Christian group of people, and she said they hated her.
[25:01] And he said the next day he handed her a book.
[25:05] He started to write, forty-nine minutes late.
[25:10] And then he said she didn't like him at all.
[25:11] He's a terrible person.
[25:11] And I mean, I could gather that it was one of those things.
[25:13] And the dinner was over at twelve or fifteen.
[25:14] And they had cocktails for an hour and a half, but everybody, including Brooke, was stoned.
[25:22] And she said, Brooke, she said, I'm never going to drink a champagne, but... Somebody did drink that, because they had this problem.
[25:34] But I had their hands.
[25:34] I had their hands.
[25:35] The master's assistant, Mark Hall.
[25:36] I can't believe it.
[25:36] I don't know.
[25:36] I've never known them.
[25:37] I've never sat down on time.
[25:39] They're all loud.
[25:40] oysters and so forth and so on.
[25:42] But I think she should go to this center for a reason that these are our friends.
[25:46] A few of our friends.
[25:48] And if they want her to come, did you say?
[25:52] Yes, they invited her.
[25:54] But I know that the other thing is that she shouldn't go to New York because you're going there.
[26:02] And there's no point in her coming back here to Washington if I was in there.
[26:06] It won't be them.
[26:06] Well, you'll remember this one.
[26:08] That's right.
[26:12] Julie will be here.
[26:13] And, um... And when she is right there at Cambridge, it would be nice to help anyone living in Massachusetts just to have the image.
[26:31] But when she appears, you know it's going to be good.
[26:36] Oh, I'm confused about that.
[26:47] But at least, at least we aren't, we don't have to swallow the iron.
[26:49] That's right.
[26:50] You see, Ross, I agree with you.
[27:09] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:17] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:21] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:30] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:35] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:36] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:36] Yes, I have a radio.
[27:37] I don't think you need to.
[27:47] No, I don't think he's going to go take it to someone.
[27:53] Well, let's see whether or not I sign it.
[27:54] Look, if he does, he doesn't deserve a picture.
[27:56] That's right.
[27:56] I'm getting the same one as his game.
[27:57] So if they can sell it someday, they don't deserve it.
[27:59] Pat, Pat, Pat.
[28:00] He said this has been a ridiculous argument.
[28:01] You know, it's funny.
[28:01] I deal with that picture as well.
[28:02] It's a real goldmine to send to people.
[28:03] Now, I don't like that at some point.
[28:06] I couldn't possibly approach that picture to you.
[28:20] That's an excellent picture.
[28:22] That's a hell of a picture.
[28:23] Hell of a picture of both.
[28:24] It's got a great expression.
[28:25] That's what I think they ought to do is they'll look through the pictures to see if they can't find one that's far below the peak and use that as our picture.
[28:30] You know, get an expression that is not posed.
[28:31] Why don't we try that once more?
[28:32] We've been around that track.
[28:32] There it is.
[28:33] Well, the tough ones aren't right on this one or this one.
[28:34] There you go.
[28:34] It's a question of the face.
[28:35] I'll take a picture.
[28:35] I'll take a picture.
[28:36] Maybe they can't find one.
[28:48] I've tried before, but I'm not going to go through that picture and see if it can help.
[28:50] And it is a pain in the neck.
[28:51] I see.