Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 900 › Conversation 900-018

Nixon & Shultz on Trade Policy and Henry Jackson

Wednesday, April 18, 1973 · 12:48 PM–12:58 PM ET · Oval Office · 10 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.Conversation900-018 on Tape 900StartWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 12:48 PMEndWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 12:58 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 900-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and George Shultz discuss a legislative setback regarding trade and immigration policy, specifically focusing on the political maneuvers of Senator Henry Jackson. The two evaluate the risks of enforcing certain provisions versus finding ways to circumvent them, ultimately deciding to accept the legislative situation as it stands. Nixon expresses deep frustration over the impact of these political obstacles on diplomatic summits and plans to shift the burden of blame for any potential failures onto congressional opponents.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Hello?
George, I thought we'd better talk on the phone because I've got parts of my hair and a couple other stuff around here.
Right.
All right, let's fight them.
High five.
Jerry's the one.
I don't mind that.
No problem.
I don't.
I'm not going to exercise it.
Yeah, they make less money.
Let me ask this, what is the journey leading to win the vote?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm the one they beat.
Would you be able to under this freeze
Yes, of course.
Yeah.
Oh, they might put the bag in.
Well, if they do, I'll beat them.
Don't you think?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, just beat them.
Yeah, but now they're gonna try to put it back in, maybe.
But we know that this afternoon.
But then it has to go to conference here, huh?
Yep.
That's a treat.
a law-balanced church, we really probably need the authority over it.
I don't think we better take the risk.
We better not take the risk.
That's what I think.
I think we just don't take the risk and do the best we can and get around it every damn way we can, you know, these various provisions, recording and all that sort of thing.
I mean, we don't have to, you know, enforce it.
We have to enforce all that in that country.
Yeah.
Yeah, it was very disappointing.
It was actually two days ago.
We thought we were going to breathe it in.
Well, they didn't.
Damn.
Damn sentence.
They would have taken that.
Unbelievable.
And, of course, Jettison really got what you expected from them, you know, they're professional Jews.
And Jackson, of course, he's catered to that, but it was unbelievable.
Unbelievable, wasn't it?
got georgia you just got impressed well i'm gonna if you know i'm putting it right on there and uh i put the whole burden on those stalls if this summit doesn't come off they get the blame and that's a small country but uh but that's that's what's that's what it's big georgia yeah
Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, I know.
Well, I mean, if you were in Jackson's, if you were in Jackson's, if you were in Jackson's position, for example, speaking for a big Jewish constituency, you'd be concerned, too, because basically the country was no longer to have the back of peace.
Peace has been made hostage to the immigration service, particularly after we've had this kind of an agreement.
But anyway, I think, George, you better live with the damn thing.
Fair enough.
That would be your recommendation, but come on, we'll see you then.
It's time.
Okay, George, thank you.

NARA Description

On April 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:48 pm to 12:58 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 900-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 900-18

Date: April 18, 1973
Time: 12:48 pm - 12:58 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with George P. Shultz.

[See Conversation No. 38-99]

Also recorded on April 18, 1973

  • 038-098 12:33 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:48 pm.
  • 900-013 12:33 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Rainer Barzel, Erich Feldweg, White House photographer, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:48 pm.
  • 900-014 12:33 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:48 pm.
  • 900-015 12:33 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:48 pm.
  • 038-099 12:48 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 12:48 pm to 12:58 pm.
  • 038-100 12:58 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:58 pm and 2:50 pm.
  • 900-019 12:58 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:58 pm and 1:03 pm.
  • 900-020 12:58 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:58 pm and 1:03 pm.

All 48 conversations from April 18, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 900-018, April 18, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/900-018 (accessed October 5, 2026).