Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 748-002
Date: Thursday, July 20, 1972 at 9:33 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/748-002

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I have some questions about tomorrow morning.
[0:02] Yeah, I'm busy.
[0:06] The proposed agenda for the breakfast.
[0:12] Yeah.
[0:13] Pardon the barrier.
[0:15] About 15 minutes.
[0:17] And then, uh, both Dominic and Wilson.
[0:21] No, no, no.
[0:21] Shit, no, shit.
[0:22] No, no, no.
[0:23] God, no, no.
[0:23] You haven't told them yet.
[0:25] No, we haven't told them yet.
[0:26] Neither one.
[0:27] They're not to be lost.
[0:28] No.
[0:42] We don't want that.
[0:44] Right.
[0:45] Could only fill up 15 minutes.
[0:47] That's fine.
[0:47] That's fine.
[0:48] But what I want, I don't think they got that.
[0:51] They must not have got the message, John.
[0:53] What I want is an understanding.
[0:56] Would you discuss the conflict?
[1:50] they don't have.
[2:21] than they zero in about the Congress.
[3:03] I'll get it.
[3:05] I'll get it.
[3:06] I'll get it.
[3:07] I'll get it.
[3:08] I'll get it.
[3:08] I'll get it.
[3:09] I'll get it.
[3:10] I'll get it.
[3:35] Senator, I thought you might want to ask before we talk two minutes on pending legislation and then just talk to the press as though much of the meeting concerned that.
[3:44] Well, it is not pending legislation.
[3:46] The legislation that will be in front of the Congress between now and the election and what the strategy will be, I think Scott and Board should be on it.
[3:56] I think they are supposed to be called on, for example.
[3:59] But once you talk to Earl, I'm sure he understands.
[4:05] I thought that he did, because I went over to him and asked him to do something in the field.
[4:10] Then they had Jaron come over to the cabinet and ask him to talk on the budget.
[4:14] And that should be free.
[4:16] Now, Weinberg there thinks that you're going to do much of the talking, and he'll back you up.
[4:22] He can give us free space.
[4:58] Yeah, of course.
[4:58] But I want you to tell, I want you to tell Ehrlichman, Ehrlichman, if you'll have, you sit down with him and tell him, I've got to have a 15-minute meeting and get his opinions on how we get this wider.
[5:09] Oh, all right.
[5:10] Okay.
[5:11] Okay, good.
[5:13] Then, all right, then my other question concerns the group.
[5:17] You know, if the major agency people are here, I should send financial aid for budget hearings, such as Weinberger recommends.
[5:23] All right.
[5:24] EPA, some will buy that.
[5:25] All right.
[5:25] All right.
[5:26] All right.
[5:58] One more thing.
[5:59] On the press business, I think Wanker would like to go out there and make some points to the press, such as the fact that you and Dr. Hinden lay down behind a whole group of tenants.
[6:13] Ask Erland what he thinks about that.
[6:14] I've talked to Erland about that.
[6:16] Maybe you want to speak to Erland.
[6:18] I'm not sure that this is the time.
[6:22] Erland has got to control Alex in the future and all the PR.
[6:33] Well, I agree.
[6:34] You know what I mean?
[6:36] The person's got some other vision.