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Conversation 915-016

TapeTape 915StartThursday, May 10, 1973 at 12:15 PMEndThursday, May 10, 1973 at 12:21 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Taylor, Gene;  Short, Dewey J.;  Timmons, William E.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Gene Taylor, Dewey J. Short, and William E. Timmons to discuss strategies for maintaining public and political support amidst the growing Watergate scandal. Participants emphasized the administration's policy achievements, such as ending the Vietnam War and the military draft, while contrasting these successes against Democratic political tactics. The conversation served as a morale-boosting session where allies reaffirmed their loyalty and discussed the necessity of framing the President's legacy within a broader, more positive context.

Watergate scandalPublic opinionVietnam WarPolitical strategyNixon administration achievements
AudioNARA Description

On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Gene Taylor, Dewey J. Short, and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:21 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 915-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 915-16

Date: May 10, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:15 pm and 12:21 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Gene Taylor, Dewey J. Short, and William E. Timmons.

     Greetings

     Photographs

     Congress
          -Short’s experience
                -Oratory
                -Senate

     Watergate
          -Taylor’s interview in Missouri
                -Administration’s accomplishments
                      -Vietnam War, prisoners of war [POWs], military draft, economy, and
                        demonstrations
          -Short’s opinion
                                               -27-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                         (rev. May-2012)

                                                           Conversation No. 915-16 (cont’d)

                  -President’s legacy
            -Effects on the President’s supporters
            -Taylor’s mail
                  -Support for President
            -Congress
                  -President’s previous speech
                  -Timmons
                        -Support for President
                  -Need to respond
            -Compared with Democrats’ activities
                  -Bombing of Republican campaign headquarters
                  -Republican national convention

      Presentation of gifts by the President
           -Cufflinks, Presidential seals

      Vietnam
           -Congressional vote

Taylor et al. left at 12:21 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.

Good to see you.
Good to see you.
Good to see you.
Good to see you.
Not yours.
He's a great man.
We could use him today.
We should.
Everybody could use him.
That's right.
We tried that once, didn't we?
We did.
Five, six, five, four, three, two, one.
That would be wonderful.
He needs to go take a look at the case with the silver.
He's got the silver and so on.
things happen.
We got a great program.
We're going to do some good things for this country.
I was on the phone last weekend and I spoke to you for a conference.
I came out to the three television cameras and they wanted to get in on Watergate.
I said, what about Watergate?
I said, I didn't have anything to do with it.
They said, well, what do you think about recovery?
I said, this administration will be judged on balance.
So I said,
When the whole perspective was looked at, we had 550,000 people in Vietnam.
They had an oppressive war.
Crime was increasing nine times as fast as the population.
And I said, today, the president's at war at home.
The war is ended.
The draft is ended.
For the first time in 30 years, young men aren't looking at the draft.
And the economy is good.
There hasn't been a college campus under siege in a few years.
There's streets in Audubon Park.
So when you look at the whole picture of Watergate, it doesn't look very big, does it?
And you know the draft?
No, guess it doesn't.
But that's what we need in town.
What do you think, Joey?
Way to talk it.
One of the best professors I ever had at Houston.
People repeat over and over, see life steadily and see it whole.
You can't judge a man's life and career by fragrance.
You've got to see it in its totality, which is very cruel.
The common rattle that all the young men think, I think that's the way they'll judge.
And it's always darkest before the dawn.
You've survived it.
Well, I didn't get here, but I'm running from it.
That's right.
That's right.
They like that.
I know how they think you are, but there's one thing.
I'm not open enough to give advice.
I'm still too young to follow it.
Advice is easily given and so damn hard to follow that I don't volunteer it.
But we've all been terribly upset and distressed, but we're not going to panic over
A lot of well-intentioned people do silly things.
That's right.
I always thought with it.
That's right.
Yes.
But what do you do?
There were people that were ours.
They were your friends.
You trusted.
They were trustworthy to you.
They weren't dependent on you.
That is to the one who said that man often loses a friend according to an enemy.
I think there's a lot of truth in that statement.
But I still believe in the Mozart philosophy that I can take care of my enemies if God would take care of my friend.
Well, Mr. President, of all the messages I've received, I haven't had one critical piece of mail in Watergate.
Everybody says, stand behind the president.
This is the truth.
This is the truth.
You know, this is, they're not people that, well, you've got to make sure you get those that haven't been.
You know, my television show, the speech of a week ago, sort of, you've got to be honest with me.
how many headquarters were bombed
You know what they did to our convention?
You don't believe me?
Sure, I was there.
I was there.
You said I knew what they did to it.
That's what I said.
I had a great day yesterday.
They bugged the Speaker of the House, and they bugged the President of the Senate, whoever bugged me yesterday.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I always get something.
This thing is just, I bet you, my new cup.
Come with me back to this.
You keep your chin up.
We're ready to leave.
We're ready to leave.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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