Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 756-020
Date: Friday, July 28, 1972 at 1:57 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Kissinger, Henry A.; White House operator; Eastland, James O.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/756-020

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] The law is not required.
[0:05] First, just let us see the service that we're ever using and not supposed to be there to cover.
[0:14] If it is her request, in other words, she's going to go out to shop or she's going to go out to see a friend or something like that.
[0:27] But unannounced, there is no problem.
[0:30] And she's right that you just don't have to have somebody looking over your shoulder for an unannounced visit.
[0:37] Well, yes, sir.
[0:41] They do protect her by law.
[0:47] There's a very great difference between an announcement, because there must always be an announcement.
[0:55] Many people can be there, they're going to get out.
[1:02] But if you're unannounced, I mean, like, for example, going out to get a cup of toothpaste or a cup of coffee, why do you have to see the service sign in it?
[1:16] He doesn't mind.
[1:17] And let's just talk.
[1:20] I see what you're talking about.
[1:25] Well, that's fine.
[1:26] The way you do it, the way you ever do it.
[1:29] That's right.
[1:30] Have the guy stay out of sight, but in range of the whistle.
[1:38] Well, they must stay out of sight of it.
[1:41] They overdo it.
[1:42] There's no question.
[1:42] They're the armed force's enemies because they overplay their role.
[1:46] They love this goddamn stuff.
[1:48] They land.
[1:48] We've got our zero women from Andrews Air Force Base.
[1:52] That's right.
[1:52] That's right.
[1:53] I understand.
[1:56] But it's counterproductive to me.
[2:00] Well, you understand.
[2:03] I just say to give her a little signal thing, but whenever she goes shopping and the rest, that she just pushes the button.
[2:10] And tell her that you call her, and you tell her that I've asked you to check the law, that the law requires it.
[2:17] We mine a portion of our cars, but she can use the signal device.
[2:21] She just carries that, and then she tells them.
[2:23] When she goes shopping or something like that, they can be outside of it.
[2:38] Patricia just suggested, why don't you want to go shopping, for example?
[2:42] You just can't have somebody, a Secret Service guy, looming in the background.
[2:45] You know, I want you to buy some laundry.
[2:47] You think their eyes are looking at you.
[2:50] I don't like it.
[2:51] Well, I can understand.
[2:52] I don't like it.
[2:53] For the national interest, you're looking at it in as cold as possible cold-blooded terms.
[2:59] Someone insulting her or killing her is of no concern.
[3:04] The only concern is someone kidnapping her.
[3:06] And a kidnap cannot be inadvertent.
[3:10] It can only be planned.
[3:11] Only when they know she's going to be there.
[3:13] So you see my client, sir, there's no problem.
[3:15] There's no security problem or national interest problem, except that.
[3:18] So let's just do it that way, OK?
[3:20] If she gets killed, this is going to hurt me.
[3:22] She gets kidnapped, it'll hurt her.
[3:23] That's her responsibility if she gets killed.
[3:26] That's right.
[3:27] If I didn't want that, then you should have let her go.
[3:30] OK, you call her.
[3:30] Call her.
[3:31] That's what you worked on, OK?
[3:33] All right.
[3:37] All we know so far, they're going to run the details and see you on the radio.
[3:43] He said he was doubly determined to stay on the ticket.
[3:46] It was reported that Ted Kennedy called in before his press conference just to say he supported it.
[3:52] You know, hanging in there, you're doing fine.
[3:56] And then there was this report that McGovern has asked him to withdraw, and he's refused.
[4:01] And there is no legal way for him to force him to withdraw.
[4:05] He said, that's the theory I had, you know, that way back the first day was the date I asked him.
[4:11] He said, it still is.
[4:14] My governor scheduled a press briefing at 2 o'clock, which is right now.
[4:20] We don't know what they're going through.
[4:21] If they're bashing him about it, that would keep the damn house shut.
[4:26] Yeah, right here.
[4:27] Well, I don't think so.
[4:28] He said, Bridge, no, I don't.
[4:30] But I told him, this is not scheduled, that the person who's going to bring in Bertrand, the British ambassador, to the box, see me, because I want to talk to the British ambassador, too.
[4:40] The British ambassador to Bertrand, who was the first assistant to me.
[4:44] So I said, I've got a hold of Henry, and he's over there.
[4:48] Bring him in as soon as we can.
[4:50] Have a knowledge that means.
[4:52] picture and also you've got that guy that grinds it or maybe or what else i don't know i thought uh i see no reason why he just couldn't have a breast picture he's just saying the soviet ambassador i think he should have a breast picture just a good idea i'll just check maybe before you see that do you want to have a dinner for the lord chief justice well he's here next week but it depends on the uh
[5:22] I think it would be a hell of a nice thing to do, I guess.
[5:27] You know, she would talk to him back and forth about it.
[5:29] He tells her, I'm not sure where it would come down, whether you were expecting him to put it all together or not or what.
[5:34] I tell you what, have her talk to the Chief Justice to see whether, first, is he here with his wife or not his wife?
[5:42] I don't know if he's here with his wife.
[5:45] Second, if he thinks that a dinner for the Chief Justice would be a good idea.
[5:53] He thinks that we should give him a dinner.
[6:04] I just wanted to tell you one thing you might mention to him is
[6:14] He has been sending a lot of messages, not all, every one, which I've shown you, but some of them concern technical economic matters, and we'll give them to Schultz, but you could just say how much you appreciate these messages and go back and forth.
[6:27] And I've sent quite a few from you to him whenever something important happens.
[6:33] And...
[6:33] I said I would have to go, and I did, because I know that's not the question.
[6:37] I'm making sure it's...
[6:41] So I'll have to check with them, but I'm sure it's not.
[6:44] The other point I was going to make is that I got the ring for two minutes before.
[6:50] We went in and witnessed this sign.
[6:55] And I said, I had this meeting with you, and I want you to know that this letter, I didn't know this letter went up.
[7:05] I said, when I get my word on something,
[7:10] I said, I was disturbed when I heard that there was some thought that we knew of what had happened there.
[7:18] Is that what they had?
[7:19] I said, Henry, absolutely correct.
[7:20] We will keep our word.
[7:22] We want to work.
[7:23] As you know, I said, I was very careful what I said in my first conference.
[7:27] So yes, I know that.
[7:27] I appreciate it.
[7:28] Each of our leaders are very important.
[7:31] They have this relationship on that kind of a basis.
[7:35] So I really want to ask, because I laid it in my heart, and I hate to say it,
[7:39] He couldn't have been better.
[7:40] Well, he's in my office.
[7:41] Actually, Sabrina was in my office.
[7:43] They just keep raving about San Juan.
[7:45] It was the greatest thing you ever had.
[7:49] Oh, that paid off enormously.
[7:52] Well, there were three technical issues on the SALT treaty, and I got them to sign a new interpretative statement, which he and I signed, because that Smith said if we make it a formal thing, he'll submit it to the Senate this way.
[8:08] We've got a reason.
[8:30] Our Soviet relationship is indispensable.
[8:34] Our Israeli relationship is necessary, but not indispensable.
[8:38] Actually, as it happens right now, Mr. President, we can have both.
[8:41] Mr. President, we don't want anything to happen.
[8:44] One other thing, Mr. President, he does not know about this new treatment proposal from the Soviets.
[8:51] I don't know.
[9:17] Senator Eastland, please.
[9:46] I'm not sure exactly where they are.
[9:48] Russell Long is calling.
[9:50] Yes, sir.
[9:51] Tim's covered the whole group before we put the announcement in.
[9:54] Long made very good politics to do this, and it's right to do it.
[10:06] The Vice President called and said to tell you how much he appreciated what you said yesterday and that it came at a very good time in case you're not there trying to kick things around at home.
[10:23] I thought that was very helpful.
[10:24] Yeah, but he very much appreciated it on a personal basis and said that you did not have to.
[10:33] Okay, I don't understand why they're so obsessed with talking about it.
[10:36] Jesus, the Times said that, you know, the staff laid out hour by hour how they've been about this election process.
[10:41] Hello?
[10:43] Hello?
[10:45] Hello?
[10:50] Uh, hello, Jeff?
[10:51] I just wanted to congratulate the new president pro tem of the Senate.
[10:56] I also wanted to ask you, in the event that you were planning to go, if you would like to go down on my plan and go down to the general in Louisiana.
[11:07] Fine, Jim.
[11:08] Our staff will be in touch with your staff and arrange for you to go.
[11:11] I'm just going to write down both of them and come right back.
[11:16] All right.
[11:17] Bye, Jim.
[11:18] Well, goodbye, Mr. President.
[11:20] Okay.
[11:21] Bye.
[11:27] He's our boy.
[11:29] That's a hell of a game over us.
[11:32] I'm calling on his power.
[11:35] I'm calling on the committee.
[11:38] We realize now that this is probably a leadership meeting.
[11:42] But before, I just felt a crush on him.
[11:46] I'm going to go with him.
[11:49] Try to arrange a joint leadership meeting at some early time.
[11:54] Okay.