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004-041

Date: 
Friday, June 4, 1971 - 8:03pm - 8:05pm
Participants: 
Richard Nixon, Bob Haldeman
Location: 
White House Telephone
Download Audio Files: 
MP3
Listen: 

President Nixon: Hello.
H.R. "Bob" Haldeman∇: Yes, sir.
President Nixon: I was wondering if . . . just working on a little scheme here . . . if we could maybe get [Vice President Spiro T.] Agnew to . . . if we could name [congressional liaison and political adviser Bryce N.] Harlow to that delegation to . . . and them have him go on around with him.1 I have in mind the fact that, you know . . .
Haldeman: Yeah, that's a good idea.
President Nixon: You see what I mean?
Haldeman: I sure do.
President Nixon: I wondered if you would call Harlow and tell him that we'd like to do it. And then, you know, that I'd like to name him to the delegation. And then see if he thinks we could . . . how he wants to approach it with the Vice President, see?
Haldeman: Yep.
President Nixon: See, I gave . . . he is choosing the delegation. He is--”well, he's naming, he's naming [Senate Minority Leader Hugh] Scott [R-Pennsylvania] and [Senator Gale W.] McGee [D-Wyoming]--”but I can name anybody I want, you know--”
Haldeman: Sure.
President Nixon: --”and I could send Bryce very well. And I think Agnew should be delighted. And then if he can go on around with him, he can, you know . . .
Haldeman: Yeah.
President Nixon: . . . talk to him and get his confidence about a lot of things. Want to follow up on it?
Haldeman: Sure will.
President Nixon: Fine.
Haldeman: That's a darned good idea.
President Nixon: OK. OK.
Haldeman: You just kind of wonder, turning him loose.
President Nixon: Yeah. Right now I think he needs a little somebody to sort of confide in. But see . . . Would you mind checking with Bryce?
Haldeman: No, no. I'd be glad to.
President Nixon: Swell. All right. Fine. Bye.
Haldeman: Bye.

1Harlow was Nixon's point man on textile politics, and Agnew was visiting South Korea, a major wool exporter, the following month. ↑

Original tape courtesy of the Nixon Library. This transcript is a working draft. Please let us know if you find important errors.