Conversation 788-008

On September 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:11 pm to 2:03 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 788-008 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 788-8

                                          (rev. Nov-03)

Date: September 29, 1972
Time: 12:11 pm - 2:03 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Charles W. Colson.

             Greetings

The President left and H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 12:12 pm.

             The President's schedule

The President entered at an unknown time before 12:15 pm.

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 12:15 pm.

             The President's schedule
                 -John B. Anderson
                     -Dinner

Butterfield left at 12:17 pm.

             1972 Presidential election
                 -The President's election headquarters in Phoenix
                     -Arson
                     -Demonstrators
                          -George S. McGovern
                               -News summary
                     -Press usage
                          -Exploitation
                 -Anti-war demonstrators at Doral Hotel
                     -Richard Moore
                     -Signs
                          -International Telephone and Telegraph Company [ITT]
                          -Watergate
                     -Anti-Nixon rally
                     -Pictures
                          -Communist banners
                          -Century Plaza demonstration
                          -Mao Tse-tung
                     -George Putnam

                                      (rev. Nov-03)

                    -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
                        -Pictures
                -McGovern
                    -Supporters
                    -Century Plaza demonstrators
                -Burning of headquarters
                    -Senate Fair Campaign Practices Committee
                        -Complaint filing
                             -Robert J. Dole
                    -Congress
                    -Ronald L. Ziegler
                -Clark MacGregor's statement
                    -Press coverage
                    -Surrogates

            Speeches by campaign surrogates
                -Quotations
                    -Colson
                    -John B. Connally
                -Defense issue
                -Spiro T. Agnew
                    -Peter H. Dominick
                    -William P. Rogers
                -McGovern
                    -Defense cuts
                         -Melvin R. Laird
                         -The President's speech to American Legion
                             -Use
                             -Defense strength
                                 -Navy
                                   -Aircraft carriers
                                 -Air Force
                                   -B-1 bomber
                                 -Army

*****************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/02/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[788-008-w001]

                                       (rev. Nov-03)

[Duration: 14m 4s]

      Campaign techniques
          -Negative ads
              -Effectiveness
              -Charles W. Colson’s opinion
          -George S. McGovern ad
              -Charles W. Colson’s opinion
          -White House policy
              -Strategy
              -Popular reaction
          -Campaign
              -Press
                   -Technique compared with content
                   -Analysis
                   -Patrick J. Buchanan
                        -Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
                   -Public interest
                        -Importance

      Thomas E. Dewey's campaign in 1948
          -New York
          -Standing
              -Gallup poll

      Public interest
            -Average person's opinion
            -Confidence
            -Healthy economy
            -Vietnam concerns
            -View of politics

      Catherine Mackin's reports on television
           -Edith Efron's analysis of press coverage
           -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s assessment
                -Laredo
                -Statue of Liberty
                     -Jews for Nixon
           -Editorializing

      National Broadcasting Company [NBC] coverage
           -Julian Goodman

                                  (rev. Nov-03)

          -Tape
          -Ken W. Clawson
          -Herbert G. Klein
      -Today Show
          -Audience
      -Evening news spot
      -Catherine Mackin
          -Job
          -George S. McGovern
      -Richard G. Valeriani
          -Coverage of George S. McGovern campaign
      -John W. Chancellor
          -Chicago cab driver
      -Effect on George S. McGovern campaign
      -Media
          -Facts

The President's previous trip to Texas
     -Dell E. Webb
          -Statement to the President

White House campaign strategy
     -Positive remarks in the President's speeches
     -Position attack
         -Media interpretation
     -Radio
         -Positive image
     -Congressional position
         -Vetoes
         -Taxes
     -George S. McGovern’s campaign
     -Image
         -Next four years
         -Positive outlook

White House press strategy
     -Handling
     -Comparison to 1968 and 1960 elections
     -William R. Hearst, Jr.'s coverage
         -1960 campaign
             -John F. Kennedy
             -Comparison of press image

                                       (rev. Nov-03)

                     -Daniel L. Schorr [?]
                -1968 campaign
            -Coverage
                -John W. Chancellor
                -Catherine Mackin
                -New York Times
                -James E. Doyle
                     -Evening Star
            -Press opposition
                -Defense
                -Network commentator
                -Columnist
                -Reporter
                -Paul's [surname unknown] thesis
                     -Ronald L. Ziegler
            -Post-election policy
                -Attack the press
            -Character of press relations
            -National Broadcasting Company [NBC] coverage
                -Kenneth W. Clawson
                -Catherine Mackin
                     -White House response to misrepresentation
                          -Clark MacGregor
                              -Indignation
                              -Presentation
                                   -Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
                                   -Edmund S. Muskie [?]
                                   -Slander charge
                                   -Reuven Frank

*****************************************************************

            Watergate
               -White House reaction

*****************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/02/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]

                                     (rev. Nov-03)

[788-008-w002]
[Duration: 14m 59s]

      1972 election coverage
           -National Broadcasting Company [NBC] coverage
                -Catherine Mackin report
                     -George S. McGovern
                     -Charles W. Colson’s opinion
                         -The President's statements on welfare
                         -Clark MacGregor
                     -George S. McGovern policy
                         -Defense budget cuts
                              -San Francisco
                         -Welfare reform
                         -The President's statements
                              -Charles W. Colson’s analysis
                -Compared to John W. Chancellor
                     -Republican National Convention
           -George S. McGovern media strategy
                -Frank F. Mankiewicz's comments on television networks
                -Ploy
                -Coverage
                     -Charles W. Colson’s theory
                         -Opposition
                         -Underdog image
                         -Counterproductive nature of television coverage
           -White House media strategy
                -Charles W. Colson's plan
                     -Radio wire
                         -R. Sargent Shriver's speech
                              -Democratic National Committee [DNC]
                              -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] news coverage
                              -Football comparison
                                  -Front four
                                        -John N. Mitchell
                                        -Earl L. Butz
                                        -John B. Connally
                                        -Spiro T. Agnew
                                        -The President
                                            -“Tricky Dicky”
                              -Use of R. Sargent Shriver's speech by Republicans

                           (rev. Nov-03)

                   -Backfire
                   -Criticism of voice
                        -Cheerleader at Yale
                        -Frank Stanton
                             -Television coverage
                        -Ralph Yarborough
                        -Spanish-speaking individuals
                        -Football players
                        -Welfare debate
                             -Los Angeles Rams player
                        -Cleveland Browns
                        -Jack F. Kemp
                             -Background
                        -Woody Hayes
     -Catherine Mackin report
         -Correction of report
         -Fighting press image
-Press coverage of the White House
     -Steps to take
     -Impact on 1972 election
     -Catherine Mackin
         -Correction
-Issues
     -Defense
     -Tax confiscation and welfare issue
         -Redistribution of wealth
     -Food prices
         -George S. McGovern’s position
-Press tactics
     -Debate
         -Richard G. Kleindienst's remarks on crime statistics
         -George S. McGovern
               -Charles W. Colson’s opinion
-George S. McGovern’s campaign image
     -Reception
     -Doral Hotel anti-war demonstrators
     -Columbus debate
     -Archie Bunker
         -Comments
     -Perception as racist
     -New York Times editorial
-Press

                                         (rev. Nov-03)

                -New York Times
                     -Reaction to column with a letter
                          -Establishmentarian
                -Washington Post
                -Eastern Establishment label
                     -New York Times
                     -Washington Post
                     -Boston Globe
                     -Milwaukee Journal
                     -St. Louis Post-Dispatch
                     -Louisville Courier Journal
                     -Opposition
                     -New York Times endorsement
                          -Thomas W. (“Teddy”) Gleason support
                          -Joseph P. Tonelli support
            -Campaign coverage
                -Issue excitement
                -Controversy
                -Effectiveness of Nixon Administration
            -George S. McGovern support
                -Opposition to the President
                -Campaign–election outcome
                -Themes
            -Poll
                -WCBS-TV New York
                -Frank Stanton
                -Standings
                     -No change
                -Albert E. Sindlinger
                     -Popular attitudes

*****************************************************************

       John D. Ehrlichman’s schedule

The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time after 12:15 pm.

[Conversation No. 788-9A]

            Ehrlichman's schedule

                                         (rev. Nov-03)

[End of telephone conversation]

       US-Soviet Union grain deal
           -Ehrlichman
                -Report
                -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] interviews
                    -Agriculture Department official in Japan
                    -Earl L. Butz
                    -Clarence D. Palmby
                    -Continental Grain Company employees
                    -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] interviews
                    -Watergate
                    -Ehrlichman
                         -L.[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
                    -FBI investigation
                         -Possible violations
                    -Possible firing
                         -Department of Agriculture staff
                    -Palmby
                    -Butz position
                    -Bryce N. Harlow’s view
                    -ITT

             Watergate
                -Indictments

             ITT
                   -White House staff
                      -Disciplinary action

             US-Soviet Union grain deal
                -Administration action
                    -Personnel
                -Butz
                    -The President’s view
                -Administration personnel
                    -Action by Butz
                -Impropriety
                -Error in judgment
                -Joseph E. Kraft
                    -Soviet Union crop failure
                          -Effect

                           (rev. Nov-03)

    -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
         -Subsidies
              -Hurting tax payers
-Negotiations
         -Soviet Union’s wheat crop
-Future trade with Soviets
         -Effect
-Negotiations
         -Farm prices
              -Other crops
         -Compared to car sales

1972 Presidential election
    -US-Soviet Union grain deal
        -Farm state effect
        -Public feeling
            -Soviet position
            -Big business advantage
        -Possible use as campaign issue
            -McGovern
                  -Patrick J. Buchanan
                       -Exit visas for Soviet Jews
                       -Foreign policy
                       -Trade with Soviet Union
                       -Big business
                       -Farmers
                       -Buchanan’s assessment
                         -Effect on campaign
                           -Communists
                             -Possible gain in support
                         -Lack of media opposition
                           -Conservative media
                           -Liberal media
            -Jews
                  -American opinion on foreign policy
                  -The President’s view
                  -Support for President

Exit visas for Soviet Jews
     -Effect on Americans
     -The President’s view
     -Israeli policy

                                      (rev. Nov-03)

                -University of Southern California, Los Angeles [UCLA]
                    -Tuition rebate to medical students

            US-Soviet Union grain deal
               -McGovern
               -Buchanan
               -McGovern’s staff
               -Media support
                   -Watergate
                   -US-Soviet Union grain deal
                   -CBS
                   -New York Times
                   -Washington Post

            Watergate
               -Washington Post
                    -Union at the Washington Post
                        -Colson’s view
                        -Katherine A. Graham
                        -Publishing contract disputes
                             -New York Herald Tribune
                                  -Compared to New York Times
               -Washington Times
                    -Publishing empire
                        -Television station owned by Washington Post [WTOP-Washington,
                        DC]

*****************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/02/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[788-008-w004]
[Duration: 11m 32s]

      1972 campaign
           -Republican Party organization
               -Command center
               -Richard G. Kleindienst
                   -Republican Party
               -New York

                            (rev. Nov-03)

     -California
         -Los Angeles
         -San Francisco
              -Fundraising
              -Issue to press
     -Benefit
     -Fundraisers
         -Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
     -Republican Party
     -Republican Party leadership
-George S. McGovern’s schedule
     -Baltimore
         -William D. Shaffer
         -Streets of Baltimore
              -Rallies
     -Maryland support
     -Segurt, New Jersey potential appearance
         -September 29, 1972
         -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
         -The President's previous visit as Vice Presidential candidate
     -Atlantic City
         -September 30, 1972
         -Industrial union conference
     -Bronx, New York
         -September 30, 1972
         -Testimonial dinner
              -Borough President
     -Newark, New Jersey
         -October 2, 1972
         -Military Park
     -Eastern Shore
         -House
              -Worth
     -Washington, DC
-R. Sargent Shriver
     -Financial status
     -Trust funds
         -Wife and kids
     -Impact as George S. McGovern running mate
         -Charles W. Colson’s opinion
         -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
         -John B. Connally’s opinion

                                    (rev. Nov-03)

                        -Previous conversation with Charles W. Colson
              -Campaign role
              -Schedule
                   -Washington, DC
                   -Minneapolis
                        -October 1, 1972
                   -Rock Island
                   -South Chicago
                   -Chicago
                   -Columbus
                   -Philadelphia
                   -Denver
                   -Fresno
                   -Same places
                        -Chicago
                        -Dallas
                   -Effect
                   -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy's appearance
          -George S. McGovern campaign
              -Media coverage
                   -Political
                   -Effect
                        -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
          -1960 campaign
              -Vice President’s schedule
              -John F. Kennedy
              -Schedule requests
          -1968 campaign
              -Schedule pressure
          -George S. McGovern campaign
              -Sitting senator
              -Requests from friends
              -Democratic Party organization
                   -Richard J. Daley
          -Republican Party organization
              -Jack D. Maltester
                   -Santa Ana, California
          -Local Democratic organization
              -Richard J. Daley
              -Youngstown, Ohio

*****************************************************************

                                      (rev. Nov-03)

            The President's schedule
                -Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] interim agreement
                     -Congressional signing
                     -Andrei A. Gromyko
                         -Monday meeting
                         -Tuesday signing ceremony

*****************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/02/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[788-008-w005]
[Duration: 43m 22s]

      Campaign schedule
          -Jewish event
              -October 1, 1972
              -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule

      John B. Connally's schedule
           -Monday October 2, 1972 taping
           -Wednesday October 4, 1972 speech
           -Health
           -Upcoming telephone call with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

      The President's schedule
           -Possible trip to Atlanta on Thursday October 5, 1972
                -Decision
                     -Charles W. Colson’s view
                     -Clark MacGregor’s view
                     -Bryce N. Harlow’s view
                     -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman assessment
           -People-oriented events
                -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] signing ceremony
                -Andrei A. Gromyko
                -Columbus Day
                     -New York dinners
                -Pulaski Day

                                (rev. Nov-03)

              -Importance of Polish

1972 election
     -Italians
     -Polish
           -Pulaski Day
                -Buffalo
                    -October 15, 1972
                -Chicago
          -Polish Congress
                -September 30, 1972
                -Detroit
                    -Spiro T. Agnew
                -Leonard Woodcock
                    -Rank and file
     -Ethnic vote
     -Press coverage
           -New York dinner
                -Timing
                    -September 30, 1972
           -Statler–Hilton
           -Waldorf Astoria
     -Advance
     -Police

George S. McGovern–R. Sargent Shriver schedule
     -Minneapolis
     -Kansas City
     -St. Louis
     -Washington, DC

The President's schedule
     -Polish Congress
     -Possible trip to Atlanta
          -Motorcade
          -Southern Chairmen, Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
          -Democrats for Nixon
          -Radio talk
     -Long-range
          -Michigan
          -Ohio
          -Pennsylvania

                                        (rev. Nov-03)

                 -New England
                 -California
                     -Vote
                     -Motorcade
                     -Suburbs
                 -Philadelphia
                     -Motorcade

The President left at an unknown time after 12:17 p.m.

       Poll results
             -October 1, 1972 release
                  -Results
             -Note to editors
             -Gap closing between George S. McGovern and the President
             -Breakdown

The President entered at an unknown time before 2:03 p.m.

       White House schedule

       The President's schedule
            -Campaigning
            -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
            -Andrei A. Gromyko
            -Congress
                 -Spending ceiling
            -Strategy in final four weeks
                 -Charles W. Colson’s view
                 -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s view
                 -New England
                      -Motorcade
                 -New York
                      -Nassau County
                      -Westchester County
                 -Philadelphia
                 -Pennsylvania
                      -Frank L. Rizzo
                      -Pittsburgh
                           -Peter F. Flaherty
                      -Philadelphia Democrats
                 -Chicago

                                (rev. Nov-03)

              -Motorcade
         -Michigan
         -Ohio–Illinois
              -Motorcade
         -Nebraska
         -Motorcade
              -Technique
         -Press coverage
              -Organization of motorcade
              -Focus on crowd
              -Efficient image
              -Demonstrators
     -Analysis
         -Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
         -Patrick J. Buchanan
         -John F. Kennedy

Campaign organization
    -Importance
    -Foreign policy
    -Viet Cong
    -Exposure
    -Press coverage
        -1970 campaign
        -Communications
        -Technology of campaigns
        -Time impression
             -Aircraft
                 -Arizona
                 -New Mexico
                 -Utah
                 -California
             -Mormon Tabernacle
             -Decision on Atlanta visit

Campaign exposure
    -Motorcade
        -Laredo
    -Airport arrivals
    -Support
    -Motorcades
        -The President’s opinion

                                (rev. Nov-03)

Communications
    -Limiting
          -New England
          -Massachusetts
              -Chances of winning
          -Philadelphia visit
          -Massachusetts
              -Hastings Keith
              -Robert F. Drinan's district
                   -Jewish
                   -Affiliation with George S. McGovern
                   -Liberal
              -Paul W. Cronin
                   -F. Bradford Morse
                   -Lowell and Lawrence
                        -George S. McGovern popularity
                   -Michael J. Harrington
    -Atlanta trip
          -Timing
    -Pennsylvania
    -Maine
    -New York
          -Upstate
          -Long Island
              -Nassau County
              -Westchester County
          -Exposure
    -Chicago
    -Midwest
    -South
    -Los Angeles
    -Ohio
          -Heartland section of the US
          -Motorcade
              -John B. Connally's recommendation
          -Key to winning
    -Michigan
          -Robert P. Griffin
    -New York
    -Illinois
          -Richard B. Ogilvie in Ohio

                         (rev. Nov-03)

-Los Angeles
-Chicago motorcade
    -Suburbs
-Ohio
    -Southern Illinois
    -Motorcade strategy
-Denver possibility
-New York
    -Northeast campaign chairman
-Midwest and Mountain states
    -Spiro T. Agnew
-Regional coverage
    -Atlanta October 12, 1972
    -New York October 2, 1972
    -Chicago October 26, 1972
    -Ohio October 21, 1972
    -Los Angeles November 4, 1972
-Mountain states
    -Senate campaigns
    -Overnight after New York
-Motorcade
-Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles
-San Clemente
    -Timing
-Denver
    -Importance
    -Motorcade possibility
-Kevin P. Phillips's book
    -The South and Mountain states
    -William Jennings Bryan
         -South and Mountain states
         -Northeast
    -Franklin D. Roosevelt
         -South and Mountain states
         -Northeast
    -The President
         -South and Mountain states
         -Northeast
         -Mountain and Plains states
             -1960 campaign
             -1968 campaign

                                 (rev. Nov-03)

Reviewing the President's schedule in California
     -Ronald L. Ziegler
         -Television [?]
         -November 2-3, 1972
     -Sunday November 5, 1972
         -Church
         -Drop by election headquarters
     -Monday November 6, 1972
         -Television appearance
     -Tuesday November 7, 1972
         -Vote
         -Return to Washington, DC

Deciding on visits
     -Unimportant stops
          -Michigan, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Seattle
     -Spiro T. Agnew's campaign role
     -New York

Speech exposure
     -Radio possibilities
         -Atlanta
               -Southern compared to national
               -Motorcade
         -White House
               -Night speeches
                    -Morning papers
                    -Timing
     -Political image
         -Possible visit to New York
               -Polish event
               -Timing
                    -Columbus Day weekend
               -R. Sargent Shriver's schedule
     -Political messages
         -Potential public reaction

First Family’s schedule

Spiro T. Agnew's campaign schedule
      -Ability

                                       (rev. Nov-03)

      Edward R. F. Cox’s schedule
          -Television appearance
               -Al Capp’s opinion
          -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s appraisal
          -Compared to R. Sargent Shriver

      The President's schedule
           -Press reaction
           -Reaction to polling
                -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s argument

      Gallup poll
           -October 1, 1972

      George S. McGovern’s image
           -Political
           -Patrick J. Buchanan analysis of effectiveness of television speeches

      The President's previous talk with Dan Rather on television
           -George S. McGovern’s speech
                -Public reaction
                -Competing with broadcast of Love Story movie
                     -American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
                -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] schedule strategy
                -Television networks
                -Love Story
                     -American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
                     -Editing of profanity for television presentation
                         -Ali McGraw’s language
                              -Nudity

      Campaign strategy
          -Atlanta trip
          -Radio speech
              -Benefits
              -Impact
              -Compared to television
                    -Costs
                    -Preparation

*****************************************************************

                                       (rev. Nov-03)

The President, Haldeman and Colson left at 2:03 pm.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Teksting av Nicolai Winther
Thank you.
They make more news, unfortunately, that the media, this is one area that they're going to screw us on.
They make more news out of the fact that we're exploiting it than the fact itself.
I think the second year was a bit more of a...
It really worked.
Big red banners get lettered in yellow, just like in China.
Clock banners, they hold up huge banners that said, Communism must win in Southeast Asia.
That's one of them.
At this century present.
And another very big thing saying, all workers unite under socialism.
It looked like the same as a model.
I was thinking Georgie Pumpkin.
Well, I don't want to...
I don't want to say it's a...
It's a...
It may be, Mr. President, that...
I think the government people are radical, and they're going to get a goddamn extreme right now.
I don't know.
I'm sure some of them.
But there, a lot of it is there, you know, the frustration that those kids, most of the demonstrators at the Century Plaza were not radical, were not extremely typical kids out for a thing, like most of the demonstrators here, even in the hard days.
I don't think, I don't think... And very small, right?
Well, it was...
I think guys on the Hill have to keep hammering it, but I think we have to give the impression of not... We are not in debt or something.
What is, what is, what, I think that surrogates can use it, I think people can use it, I think it's a good idea.
They're going to be good enough.
Just keep it away from here, it's a silly child.
That's right, that's normal.
But that, from here, my house, I want,
I wondered if you ever did anything in charge about giving out that, what I call that, his own words, and he just constantly emphasized that.
Has that been done?
Every week, well, we've done two things.
We send it out in personal memos to the circuits, 35 of them.
We also now give them, every Friday night or Saturday morning, they get a fresh briefing
It turns out, the Vice President got widely quoted, widely reported, using the quote out of the right-wing piece.
I just have to pick up this week, Senator Dominic got quoted using it.
Bill Rogers said it in his speech last night in the U.S.
They are using it.
I think it really, I think it's a terrible thing.
I think it's a terrible thing.
I think it's a terrible thing.
Thank you very much.
Ja.
They had not completed their interviews.
They haven't been able to interview one of the agriculture people who is in Japan.
They had butts and fountains stickable for interviews today.
They have not interviewed any other continental or cargo people.
What they have... That's part of our concern.
To get them going.
The...
The other thing is they took out a CVS and went, why not the FBI?
They're here full time?
They went and pulled it out on the wood.
John is kicking them on the head.
John is kicking them on the head.
So, so they have about...
So their only conclusion is that they can't, at this point, find anything that they would call a violation of the federal statute.
How about anything that we would call stupidity in the fire?
Stupidity is not a violation of the federal statute.
There's a lot of stupidity.
We've got to find the stupidest guy.
If it's all made a mistake, it was a serious thing.
He should be demoted or fired on the basis of competence.
That's right.
We fire people.
Yeah, I think he is.
Way out there.
I think he is.
Carlo raised a very interesting point.
I've been very eager for us to act and cut it off and take whatever losses there are and get rid of it and show you as being one who would be impatient for this kind of thing.
But Carlo makes an interesting point.
Of course, Carlo was very close to all this.
So you have to put that in
He says, the minute you do this, you're going to confirm in the public's mind that there's something wrong, not only in this, but then they'll say, well, there must have been something wrong in ITT, and he only did this because it's a campaign.
I look at it, I agree, I think just the opposite.
I think an outraged president.
He says that when there is really something wrong, he does something.
You've got to do something on something, because we are not perfect.
We're not that, we're not perfect.
And they've got the Watergate.
I don't know.
Well, I raise it only because
The biggest vulnerability is the line Joe Kraft picked up, which is that we got snockered by the Russians, because with their disastrous crop failure, we continued to pay export subsidies months longer than necessary.
And that's what Crockett was on to when he said large amounts of taxpayer money was wasted.
Well, we didn't know about that.
The Russians, they knew what I did, but the Russians,
The point is that the agriculture marketing people did not call this one right.
They should have stopped the subsidy much sooner than they did.
They didn't forgive.
You can't be so sure that they did for other reasons.
They were trying to be nice to the farmers.
But the point is, on the Russian problem, who the hell knew?
I mean, this man's secret was very well kept.
They didn't tell us.
We had no idea that this thing was going to be of this magnitude.
You see, they kept it to the Russians.
I don't know, that's the thing you wonder about on this, when they make this stuff about the Russians.
The point is, if the Russians hadn't had the short drop, we would have been delighted with the deal.
I mean, we sold the wheat at good prices.
We were happy with it.
It's like farmers will give you the best day of your life.
Oh yeah, that's right.
And that affects all the other things.
Wheat affects all the other things.
Farm prices go up, trade prices go up.
But you've got the same attitude now, the guy who goes out and buys a new car, and then next week the dealer knocks the prices down, you know, and the guy misses the sale.
He won't win, so he knows he's got a good buyout of the car, but he's...
If we had a live candidate against us, a president who was smart, he'd be sitting over at the Eastern Shore plotting the campaign, and he'd be picking an issue like this, and really deciding to go with it.
The whole thing in one 15-minute speech time altogether would make anybody mad except the government's comment supporters who can't leave him anyway.
And would make major inroads for him with major voting box for a week.
And, as Pat says, he wouldn't run into any effective media opposition.
The right and the conservative columnists have never been enthusiastic about selling anything to the Soviets.
The left is concerned about detente and wants trade with the Soviets, but is more concerned with his Jewish friends who claim the president's leave.
It's a very tough issue to wait for.
Well, there's only one thing that I would totally disagree with you, Canada.
The Jews.
The American people do not want, therefore, policy hostage to the Jews.
That's for sure.
Oh, no, but he's making a bunch of, you can tie that into it.
I know, I know.
And pick up the Jewish community where he's getting, where he has trouble.
We don't have the Jewish community.
We've got 30 percent of them.
We're not going to get a goddamn bit more.
Exit fee issue is an emotional issue with a few of the Jewish professional leaders.
I'm not sure it cuts that deep as you get down the line.
Even the Jews?
Even the Jews.
Exit fee issue is a way to get them out of there.
The Russians, they don't have to give exit fees.
If you're trying to get a visa to get out of Russia, the exit fee is a way to get them out of there.
The Israelis have an exit.
Why, of course.
They will let people out of the bay.
You can see that myself.
I have to educate somebody that takes off.
It's not a bad idea.
I should make a question for all of you.
Who would you pay to do that?
We were talking about doing the same thing at the University of California.
We were going to have a tuition rebate for people, graduates of the med school who stayed in California.
Charge an exit fee to those who left.
I think so.
And I think that what's happening is that they're fighting against the NDR among themselves.
he isn't now in a position to sit there and take good advice and sift it out in his own mind.
On the other hand, he tends to go along with whatever issue the media, his media, goes up.
His media built up wiring, so he talked about that for six months, six weeks.
Now, his media now are really like the Randy.
Maybe we'll talk about that for six weeks, right?
CBS, New York Times, Washington Post,
But on that, I don't know what you can do with something like that.
It may not look a lot like what you're supposed to have to set it on.
That's right.
Why is that?
One of them we do, yeah.
That's one of them they can do.
They've got some threatening folks, though.
Craftsmen?
Yeah.
From the post?
Yeah.
If I get back to work, I'll beat the shit out of them.
Play rock.
Black boots and leather jackets.
I think we will pay anything.
This is the one period of time which the Post ain't about to start publishing.
They will.
They will.
If we can get the price up.
I'd like to see the very Post coming.
He can't pull us in.
Tomorrow you have the signing.
I think it's not big enough.
Isn't it?
Let's wait and see how many people we've got.
It's going to be a lot.
It's going to be a lot.