Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 627-010
Date: Wednesday, December 1, 1971 at 12:27 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Brown, Clarence J.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/627-010

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[2:22:04] But I just had him do a background check and some talking points, so that when you finish doing the end or something, you decide to do something before you walk out or something like that.
[2:22:51] How do we get at this speech business?
[2:22:55] Well, as I thought about it, that's the way that I've been thinking.
[2:23:04] We're the art of our time.
[2:23:07] The art of our time.
[2:23:08] The art of our time.
[2:23:09] The art of our time.
[2:23:11] The art of our time.
[2:23:13] The art of our time.
[2:23:14] The art of our time.
[2:23:17] The art of our time.
[2:23:50] I'm going to make a speech, though.
[2:23:56] I don't know if you'll be able to hear me.
[2:23:59] I'm going to make a speech, though.
[2:24:09] I'm going to make a speech, though.
[2:24:12] I'm going to make a speech, though.
[2:24:21] Håll på!
[2:25:01] Ja, ja.
[2:25:03] When will the conference be?
[2:25:05] I need to talk to you.
[2:25:33] Ah, right, right.
[2:25:39] Yeah.
[2:25:43] Right, right.
[2:25:50] Yes, sir.
[2:25:51] Yes, sir.
[2:25:52] Well, it sounded a little like election years, when you did the Chekhov and all the rest.
[2:25:58] That's really something, isn't it?
[2:26:03] Yeah.
[2:26:13] Ja.
[2:26:15] Ja.
[2:26:19] Ja.
[2:26:20] Ja.
[2:26:21] Ja.
[2:26:23] Ja.
[2:26:23] Ja.
[2:26:23] Ja.
[2:26:40] Sure.
[2:26:41] Sure.
[2:26:42] As far as this, as far as they're saying that this hurts us in 72, that isn't quite a problem, it isn't.
[2:26:46] I'm going to make sure.
[2:26:48] Yeah, yeah.
[2:27:12] Ja.
[2:27:19] Ja, ja, ja.
[2:27:24] Ja.
[2:27:24] Very good point.
[2:27:27] Ja, ja, ja.
[2:27:28] Even though the tax on it is too, but it's still a good thing.
[2:27:53] That's right.
[2:27:54] That's right.
[2:27:55] But it's a profound change for another reason.
[2:27:56] Basically, when we get into this country, we have to realize that when the franchise is limited, basically, the property order is only $50,000.
[2:28:08] We don't need to live in this country.
[2:28:14] But the reason for it was really to see that the decisions were made by more responsible people.
[2:28:28] Now, we have not sent a franchise to everybody, but on the other hand, insofar as participation in campaigns is concerned,
[2:28:38] Individuals who contribute to campaigns, for the most part, are the more responsible people, whether they be Republicans or Democrats, whether they care about a little money, they have a stake in the system, and they contribute.
[2:28:51] Once you set up a system whereby, well, the tax system painlessly takes care of it all, then the interest of the people, the responsible people, will go way down.
[2:29:04] The other side of the question is that as far as the candidate is concerned, he will...
[2:29:11] Be free as a bird, to be just as totally irresponsible as he wants to be.
[2:29:15] In other words, they talk about the viciousness of lobbies and so forth.
[2:29:20] Well, a lobby is a pretty good restraint on some irresponsible guy, as you know.
[2:29:25] Otherwise, you're just going to slap the bullet.
[2:29:28] Do you think that probably makes sense?
[2:29:32] It can't go itself, either way.
[2:29:51] Try it.
[2:30:00] Oh, that's true.
[2:30:01] Yeah.
[2:30:01] Yeah.
[2:30:01] Right.
[2:30:48] On a volunteer, on a basis where he himself decides to make a commitment.
[2:30:53] Painless labor.
[2:30:54] It doesn't cost him.