Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 726-013
Date: Friday, May 19, 1972 at 4:05 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Byrd, Robert C.; Ehrlichman, John D.; MacGregor, Clark; White House photographer; Bull, Stephen B.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/726-013

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[2:50:48] Take that over to the OBP, sir.
[2:50:50] Thank you.
[2:51:46] This way
[2:52:13] He changed his view.
[2:52:15] I'm sorry.
[2:52:16] Bob, I can make this very clear.
[2:52:17] This bill is a tough one.
[2:52:17] I just read a comment from my neighbor in the city of Chicago who said it cost $900 million.
[2:52:42] the budget buster and this, that, and the other thing, bad president, and so forth and so on.
[2:52:45] And then I'd get a gift of myself, and I'd inquire myself here if it was John Irving, and then this morning, and I'd ask John, I'd say, now, did you talk to John?
[2:52:48] Yes.
[2:52:48] And I'd ask John, I said, what did you do?
[2:53:04] And so I think you should know that I decided to sign it.
[2:53:07] Great.
[2:53:08] Now, I would like for you to, if you would, keep it in the conference tomorrow.
[2:53:13] We'd like to announce it tomorrow.
[2:53:14] I think it's only there that Arch knows about it.
[2:53:17] But you and Arch...
[2:53:27] We'll make a decision tomorrow.
[2:53:29] Fair enough.
[2:53:30] Yeah.
[2:53:31] If the decision is made, it's done, I'm gonna sign the bill.
[2:53:35] Very good, fine.
[2:53:36] Now, in the meantime, you help us out.
[2:53:39] We've gotta keep those costs down, and let's find ways of administering.
[2:53:43] We don't wanna hurt people that really need it, but it is a real problem.
[2:53:49] And if you'll help as much as you can, we'd appreciate it if you do that.
[2:53:53] Whatever we can have.
[2:53:57] The thing is that I figure the way that we use it, if I veto it, which I should from a standpoint of fiscal responsibility, the veto might be sustained, it might not.
[2:54:00] But then it'll be introduced again next year, and it'll be passed, and it'll be passed over veto.
[2:54:02] So under the circumstances, the thing to do is to do it the right way.
[2:54:22] And, frankly, it's, you know, everybody who sits in this chair now and then, even though I'm supposed to be a pretty tough guy, you've got to have some feeling of heart with those poor damn people.
[2:54:26] And so it's not real.
[2:54:26] But I feel it also for you calling now, and I appreciate it.
[2:54:27] Mr. President, we have a question.
[2:54:43] We had indicated to the press that I would be down to see you about this.
[2:54:50] And I'll have to say something.
[2:54:53] What can I say?
[2:54:55] You should say that it's a very, very hard question for him because he has serious budget limitations.
[2:55:08] And the president has on his desk a
[2:55:11] You know, a recommendation for me to, as well as an argument to, on the other side, that you presented the case and the president said, well, we'd like to have a federal investigation tomorrow.
[2:55:17] And that you would say that, well, that I...
[2:55:29] And they say, well, are you pleased with your visit?
[2:55:32] And you say yes.
[2:55:33] This is all I can ask.
[2:55:34] And you can say to the president, listen.
[2:55:36] If you hear the case, if you hear the case, you can pick me up.
[2:55:39] I'd leave a little bit of ideas, but maybe not that I'm going to leave them, but just maybe that I'm still going to ask for your information.
[2:55:48] And the decision is made.
[2:55:50] Can I say that I'm pleased with my visit?
[2:55:52] I think you should say that I was, that you were pleased with your visit and that the president listened and wanted to, uh,
[2:56:00] Heard all the arguments, heard all that you presented the case, effectively that he seemed to be very impressed by the case you presented.
[2:56:09] He's going to consider that along with, of course, the other matters that made the decision to be announced tomorrow.
[2:56:20] And they'll probably get something assigned, which is all right, too.
[2:56:25] John, I can work the situation out.
[2:56:28] I can call Arch tomorrow morning.
[2:56:46] But your decision about the announcement, I can coordinate.
[2:56:50] Well, I made the decision, and you worked out the time for the announcement.
[2:56:55] The first thing I'd say, what do you think, John?
[2:57:03] Yes, and tomorrow, tomorrow you're going to be on TV, right?
[2:57:07] And I believe that you might be all of a sudden, you might want to mention that classic, one of the other things, the president has before him, is a very strong representation from the government.
[2:57:17] Yeah, you might say that to us, but if you would, I would call again to come tomorrow to this.
[2:57:26] Now, may I just make this quick question?
[2:57:32] Could I call my office with you standing by while the President's going on in?
[2:57:53] So I don't have my office because we're going to have to say something.
[2:57:57] How about this meeting last year?
[2:57:58] Oh, it would be over here.
[2:58:00] So then I can call the mayor.
[2:58:02] Why don't you do that?
[2:58:04] You don't need to have that.
[2:58:05] You know, you just say, you call your office.
[2:58:07] I call the mayor's office.
[2:58:11] You just say that.
[2:58:12] All right.
[2:58:13] Fair enough.
[2:58:13] Thank you, Mr. President.
[2:58:15] I hope we can make some progress.
[2:58:17] We'll do that for help on the hill.
[2:58:40] Uh, why don't you and I wrap this thing up a little bit a little bit.
[2:58:43] Then I'll take care of the rest of the client.
[2:58:45] Okay, you go on and I'll take care of it.
[2:58:46] Thank you.
[2:58:47] Thanks for watching.
[2:58:47] Good night.