On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:56 pm and 4:03 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-001 of the White House Tapes.
Transcript (AI-Generated)This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.
When I announced our new economic policy on August 15, I said that Friday's election was the other bucket job.
Yesterday, George Meade walked off the job.
The decision to come, the decision to walk out, came after the ruling of the Longsharm's contract.
While other American workers are being held to a 5.5% wage increase, the paper ruled against a 20% wage increase for the Longsharm.
Mr. Meany supported the increase.
The pay bar was right.
Mr. Meany was wrong.
I respect Mr. Meany as a powerful spokesman for the nation's largest slave organization, the NFL-CIO.
But only 17% of America's 80 million wagers belong to the NFL-CIO.
It is my responsibility to act and speak for all people, and I shall meet that responsibility.
As president, I cannot permit any leader representing special interests, no matter how powerful, to torpedo and sink a program needed to protect the public interest.
I have directed the table in a contingent but a single public unit with those labor leaders who widely wish to remain, balanced by a reduced number of business leaders.
I directed the price commission to proceed on course, working alongside the table, to cut inflation in half by the end of the year.
All rules and regulations remain in full force.
All Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a stake in winning the fight against inflation.
This is a fight to the finish.
With the support of the American people, we shall win.
When I concentrated on the policy in August 15, I said that fighting inflation must be everybody's job.
Yesterday, George Meany walked off the job.
The decision to walk out came after the ruling of the Long Charm contract.
While other American workers are being held with a 5.5% wage increase, the pay board ruled against a 20% wage increase for the Long Charm.
Mr. Meany supported the increase.
The pay board was right.
Mr. Meany was wrong.
I respect Mr. Weenie as a powerful spokesman for the nation's largest labor organization, the NFL-CIO.
But only 17% of America's 80 million wage earners belong to the NFL-CIO.
It is my responsibility to act and speak on behalf of all the people, and I shall need that responsibility.
As president, I cannot permit any leader representing a special interest, no matter how powerful, to torpedo and sink a program needed to protect the public interest.
I have directed the pay board to continue, but it's a single public unit of those labor leaders who wisely wish to remain, balanced by a reduced number of business leaders.
I have directed the price commission to proceed on course, working alongside the pay board to cut inflation in half by the end of the year.
All rules and regulations remain full force.
All Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a stake in winning the fight.
All Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a stake in winning the fight against inflation.
This is a fight to the finish.
With the support of the American people, we shall win.