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Conversation 798-010

TapeTape 798StartSaturday, October 14, 1972 at 10:58 AMEndSaturday, October 14, 1972 at 11:01 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Price, Raymond K., Jr.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. discuss the final draft of a televised address, specifically addressing concerns regarding word count and broadcast timing requirements for the Committee to Re-elect the President. Nixon mandates changes to a personal anecdote in the speech, ordering the removal of his brother David's name to maintain anonymity and avoid press scrutiny. The two also coordinate the scheduling of upcoming meetings related to the drafting process.

SpeechwritingTelevision broadcastingCommittee to Re-elect the PresidentMedia strategyPublic relations
AudioNARA Description

On October 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:58 am to 11:01 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 798-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 798-10

Date: October 14, 1972
Time: 10:58 am - 11:01 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Raymond K. Price, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 31-45]

                                        (rev. Nov-03)
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
Ray, I just approved the final draft.
That's a very good effort.
I like that.
The reason I had the impression that it was shorter is that I didn't realize it had gone up to 2,000 words.
But we want to keep
That's what I thought.
So basically, in the future, let's run them about this one, 1700 will run.
In a 15 minute broadcast, we should go 13 and a half minutes.
Because one of the reasons it isn't like presidential, they have to have the political synopsis.
This is paid for by the committee to reelect the president.
It takes a little bit of time.
This is a change that I have made.
where I called that boy.
Now, I have stricken out the name David in both cases, the point being that I don't want him to be that identifiable, and I don't want the letter to be put out.
You understand?
What I mean is if anybody in the press asks about it, it's kind of, the point being we don't know what this boy, the brother, is up to.
So I just said, my brother,
but I want you to know why I've done that.
See, because we haven't consulted about using the letter, but we don't identify the letter.
You seem to think there's a problem there.
Very personal.
And the point is, though, I want us all to know that if they were not going to put out the letter or identify it, the only identification we have is it's from the Midwest.
Why don't we leave that in here?
Are you excited?
Well, I thought we were meeting at 7 o'clock.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Any problems?
Well, I don't need it now.
I don't need it right away.
Don't worry too much about it.
We can just move on to some of the others.
But if we can't get it done, we'll wait until next week.
OK. Fine.
We've got one hill.
OK. Fine.
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