Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 803 › Conversation 803-012

Nixon & Scott on Senate leadership and Political strategy

Wednesday, October 18, 1972 · 12:04 PM–12:09 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, HughConversation803-012 on Tape 803StartWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 12:04 PMEndWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 12:09 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 803-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott to discuss recent political matters and express gratitude for Scott's support on specific legislative or public policy issues. The discussion touched upon the strategic optics of political appearances, involving governors and mayors, as well as the upcoming post-election transition. Additionally, the two briefly addressed budgetary concerns and the necessity of managing the administration's fiscal image moving forward.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Well, I wanted to say that I'm most grateful for your speaking on the water.
We'd like to know that you didn't have many supporters, but that was it.
It looked good historically.
I can assure you.
I wish you well on your trip.
I pray you're not going to be without your Friday members.
It's a good idea.
It's all right, because basically it's just as well to let that be a show for governors and mayors, don't you think?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Good.
Right.
Well, you and Marianne have a good time.
And after the convention, I mean, I'm sorry, the election will take off in three months, fair enough.
That's an order.
Marvelous.
Marvelous.
She's been there before?
Oh, of course she's been there.
Yeah.
When did we find her?
Do you understand?
I have to pay to other customers.
I've got to live that $24 billion now on Instagram.
We'll find a way.
We'll find a way.
That's right.
Sometimes you've got to think of how you're going to look like.
All right.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.

NARA Description

On October 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:04 pm to 12:09 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 803-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 803-12

Date: October 18, 1972
Time: 12:04 pm - 12:09 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Hugh Scott.

[See Conversation No. 31-118; two items have been withdrawn]

Also recorded on October 18, 1972

  • 031-116 11:45 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:45 am.
  • 803-008 11:45 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:45 am.
  • 803-009 11:45 AM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 11:59 am.
  • 031-117 11:59 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-010 11:59 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-011 12:02 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:02 pm to 12:04 pm.
  • 031-118 12:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 12:04 pm to 12:08 pm.
  • 803-013 12:09 PM · 1 hr 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:09 pm and 1:27 pm.

All 86 conversations from October 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 803-012, October 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/803-012 (accessed October 10, 2026).