Nixon White House Tape 72 (September 10, 1971)

Nixon, Abel & Beirne

President Nixon met with key labor leaders and administration officials to solicit input on the development of 'Phase II' of his economic program, following the conclusion of the initial 90-day wage and price freeze. The discussion centered on transitioning to a more permanent, yet flexible, mechanism for controlling inflation while maintaining the principles of collective bargaining and a free-market system. The participants debated the merits of tripartite boards—modeled after the War Labor Board—versus government-imposed mandates, with labor leaders emphasizing the need for voluntary compliance and equitable standards. Nixon concluded by establishing an October 1 deadline for the group to submit their formal views, underscoring the necessity of labor-management cooperation for the program's success.

A group of unidentified participants convened in the Cabinet Room to deliberate on administrative or policy matters. Due to the withdrawal of the majority of the recording for non-historical reasons, the specific agenda, key figures involved, and any resulting decisions remain undocumented. The session was brief, concluding well before its scheduled end time.