Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 692-001
Date: Thursday, March 23, 1972 at 3:56 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President)
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/692-001

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] When I announced our new economic policy on August 15, I said that Friday's election was the other bucket job.
[0:05] Yesterday, George Meade walked off the job.
[0:09] The decision to come, the decision to walk out, came after the ruling of the Longsharm's contract.
[0:16] While other American workers are being held to a 5.5% wage increase, the paper ruled against a 20% wage increase for the Longsharm.
[0:25] Mr. Meany supported the increase.
[0:27] The pay bar was right.
[0:29] Mr. Meany was wrong.
[0:31] I respect Mr. Meany as a powerful spokesman for the nation's largest slave organization, the NFL-CIO.
[0:37] But only 17% of America's 80 million wagers belong to the NFL-CIO.
[0:42] It is my responsibility to act and speak for all people, and I shall meet that responsibility.
[0:48] 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.
[0:56] 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.
[1:08] I directed the price commission to proceed on course, working alongside the table, to cut inflation in half by the end of the year.
[1:16] All rules and regulations remain in full force.
[1:19] All Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a stake in winning the fight against inflation.
[1:24] This is a fight to the finish.
[1:26] With the support of the American people, we shall win.
[1:38] When I concentrated on the policy in August 15, I said that fighting inflation must be everybody's job.
[1:44] Yesterday, George Meany walked off the job.
[1:48] The decision to walk out came after the ruling of the Long Charm contract.
[1:52] 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.
[2:01] Mr. Meany supported the increase.
[2:02] The pay board was right.
[2:04] Mr. Meany was wrong.
[2:06] I respect Mr. Weenie as a powerful spokesman for the nation's largest labor organization, the NFL-CIO.
[2:13] But only 17% of America's 80 million wage earners belong to the NFL-CIO.
[2:16] It is my responsibility to act and speak on behalf of all the people, and I shall need that responsibility.
[2:24] 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.
[2:33] 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.
[2:42] 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.
[2:50] All rules and regulations remain full force.
[2:54] All Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a stake in winning the fight.
[3:00] All Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a stake in winning the fight against inflation.
[3:08] This is a fight to the finish.
[3:10] With the support of the American people, we shall win.