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Conversation 827-023

TapeTape 827StartWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 4:25 PMEndWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 4:32 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Chotiner, Murray M.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with political advisor Murray Chotiner to discuss various Republican political maneuvers and personnel strategies for the upcoming term. The conversation centered on potential candidates for California, including Robert H. Finch and Ronald Reagan, as well as the importance of strengthening Republican representation in the House and Senate. Nixon emphasized the need for better quality candidates and active involvement in future electoral efforts to ensure the success of his administration.

California politicsRobert H. FinchRonald ReaganRepublican National CommitteeElectoral strategy
AudioNARA Description

On December 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Murray M. Chotiner met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:25 pm to 4:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 827-023 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 827-23

Date: December 20, 1972
Time: 4:25 pm - 4:32 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Murray M. Chotiner.

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       Republican National Committee [RNC] [?]
            -Finances
                  -1971
                  -1972
            -Campaign funds [?]
            -Richard Richards [?] [Deputy Chairman RNC]
                  -Republicans
            -John B. Connally
                  -Lawyers

       California
                                            -63-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. July-08)

                                                            Conversation No. 827-23 (cont’d)

             -Evelle T. Younger
             -Ronald W. Reagan
                   -Appointment as Ambassador
                   -Plans
             -Robert H. Finch
                   -Election possibilities
                   -Chance of success
                         -Alan Cranston
                   -Senator
                         -Qualities
                   -Campaign options
             -Reagan

       Republicans in House of Representatives and Senate
            -Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
            -William E. Brock, III
            -Candidates
                  -Quality
                  -Wilson
            -Brock
            -Clarence J. (“Bud”) Brown, Jr.
            -George H. W. Bush
            -Donald H. Rumsfeld

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

Chotiner left at 4:32 pm.
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.

First of all, I have to be that sharp with respect to money.
I was 71 for nine months.
I've had 50,000 pound of taxes this year out of the affordable living.
Really, yes, but four taxes.
Four taxes.
And the only one that I can hope to take this year is without compensation for the family that's left with me.
I'd like you to pray and have a good prayer.
It's time to start the practice of my prayer.
I beg you on that night, let us all pray.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Republicans and Republicans, and I say Republicans, are political communists too.
You know, he's a lawyer.
He's got a view on the issue of this.
He said, well, you know, if you go to the same market, the lawyers, I say, you know, this is very good.
I say, yeah, what was the deal about that today?
I don't know.
The second point is, I've been commissioned by Neville Younger to let you know about a certain situation.
Things are getting very, very messy out there in California.
It looks great, but it will be much more difficult.
if Reagan is appointed to be the governor, and so forth.
Now, if he is going to be appointed, these people have to know he does, otherwise they make different plans, and so forth.
So there's a situation.
But let me tell you something.
Reagan and Lou Cesar, the second, third, and fifth prime ministers, wanted to be on the team together.
And for now, they're going to be on the team.
I don't know what they're going to do.
Just so these guys can take a plan, and a very vague plan, but the word, I don't know, I won't give it up.
I won't give up the honor.
Maybe I'll have to listen to you.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Well, I spoke to her.
I spoke to her.
I told her this time.
I told her this time.
The government would kill her.
He can win.
He can beat Prince.
He's afraid he can't beat Prince.
He's taking polls all the time.
I'm fully honest with you about that.
And Murray, he had a race.
If he gets into this race, Bob will simply let me die.
He's a back-looking man of friends and friends.
He's smart.
He works hard.
He's fed back-to-back companies.
He's a punch to the face.
He would be back-to-back.
He would be back-to-back.
He's the member of the board.
It carries him on heart.
He'd be a magnificent senator.
He's a very subtle activist.
I had a long talk with him about him.
You must know him.
But Murray decided to get off his ass and decide.
He had all his cow pox in his bag, and I went over and I held their hands.
And everybody said, Bob, Bob can't decide.
I asked him.
He said, it's very important that we go out.
I don't know.
Here's why I felt worried about the horrible news.
Indeed, you've got me in a position to give you the spoiler.
I said, if you announce first, Bob, that anybody else who announces is running against you, don't place yourself in the position of running against X, Y, or Z.
Who else wants to be Senator?
Well, there's still a talk about Reagan.
Oh, shit.
But, uh, I said, if Reagan announces first, then you are running against Reagan.
I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said,
The third thing is, Mr. Sandhya sir, is this.
To make your administration a success, you have to have a Republican, House, and Senator standing for.
Otherwise, I'm going to cut the administration to ribbons, because I feel that most of the people that I see in the South now is the time to move on to things that I can be helpful to, like the guy in the chest, like somebody you always kind of just... Well, let me tell you, I do know you can be helpful, but...
I have three of them.
You read the writer.
I have two of them.
The first, not most, but four of them.
I said, go.
I said, go.
I said, go.
I said, go.
I said, go.
I said, go.
I said, go.
But the chances of winning the Senate were low.
The chances of winning the House were high.
Did you see the Republican candidates?
What did you think of them?
Well, most of the candidates didn't have a lot.
But no, they were awful.
And Wilson doesn't have a fire release.
We're going to get involved now.
That's the point.
Bill Rock, I'll have him talk to you.
Bill Rock is going to be the senator.
Sure.
But he's not going to be the rest.
Then I'll be the other one.
I have told you, I told George Bush this story.
If the fire was this time, it would pop.
I said, by that time somebody else is going to be here.
I'd love to have a good conversation.
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