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Conversation 007-138

TapeTape 7StartSunday, August 15, 1971 at 10:40 PMEndSunday, August 15, 1971 at 10:42 PMTape start time05:13:29Tape end time05:15:30ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the initial positive reception to Nixon’s televised address announcing a wage-price freeze. Haig reports favorable feedback from a broad range of political and economic figures, noting that the speech successfully projected a crisp and confident tone. The conversation concludes with a brief update on Henry Kissinger’s ongoing, private negotiations regarding Vietnam, which the President hopes will be effectively camouflaged by the economic policy announcement.

Wage-price freezeEconomic policyPresidential speechVietnam negotiationsHenry KissingerPublic opinion
AudioNARA Description

On August 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 10:40 pm to 10:42 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-138 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 7-138

Date: August 15, 1971
Time: 10:40 pm - 10:42 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the President.

     Wage-price freeze speech
         -Haig's reaction
         -Others' reaction
               -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
               -Jacob K. Javits
               -J. Kenneth Galbraith
               -Milton Friedman
               -Frank R. Milliken
               -Industry
                     -Chrysler
                -Freeman Gosden

     Vietnam negotiations
          -Henry A. Kissinger
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
Hi, Al.
Yeah.
Sir, I thought that was superb, just first class.
Well, we had to lay it on the line, you know.
Well, I've got the first reports in from various people that have a special interest in Mansfield.
Yeah.
Harsh but very necessary measures.
You welcomed them.
Good, good, good, good.
Javits, of course, very high.
Good, good.
Even Galbraith...
said that the wage price freeze was sound policy.
Good.
He asked for more permanency.
I know, but we're not going to do that.
The only guy who didn't like it was Milton Friedman in Chicago.
Well, he wouldn't.
No, he wouldn't.
Milliken, the governor of Michigan, very high.
It could be as significant as the China announcement was earlier.
Industry, for the most part, no reaction.
Chrysler said it was very pleased, of course.
Mm-hmm.
So we're getting, I got a call from the coast from Freeman Godson.
He said that everyone out there is delighted to... Godson for that?
Good, good.
The speech, I think, sir, as I read it, before you gave it, I thought it was going to be a tough job to give.
I think you gave it exactly the right way, crisp and confident.
And the end of it, which could have been pedantic, had it not been delivered properly this morning,
Well, Henry's over there, huh?
Yes, sir, he is.
We've heard nothing.
Oh, you won't, sure.
No sign.
He meets tomorrow, doesn't he?
Do you meet today?
Yes, he meets tomorrow.
Good.
Well, this will camouflage what he's doing.
Yes, very well.
Okay, Al.
Good of you to call.
Yes, sir.
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