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Conversation 007-140

TapeTape 7StartSunday, August 15, 1971 at 11:03 PMEndSunday, August 15, 1971 at 11:05 PMTape start time05:34:25Tape end time05:36:06ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Klein, Herbert G.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Director of Communications Herbert G. Klein discuss the initial public and media reception to the President’s newly announced wage-price freeze. Klein reports that the policy is being viewed positively and argues that the psychological impact of the decisive action is the key to maintaining momentum. The two men review planned follow-up communications strategies, including upcoming television appearances by John Connally and briefings for journalists to sustain support for the administration's economic initiatives.

wage-price freezeeconomic policymedia relationsHerbert G. Kleinpublic opinion
AudioNARA Description

On August 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Herbert G. Klein talked on the telephone from 11:03 pm to 11:05 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-140 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 7-140

Date: August 15, 1971
Time: 11:03 pm - 11:05 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Herbert G. Klein talked with the President.

     Wage-price freeze speech
         -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
               -Martin Hayden
         -John S. (“Jack”) Knight
         -Psychological effect
         -Media coverage
               -Television
                     -Haldeman
                     -John B. Connally press conference
               -Columnists
               -Bureau chiefs
         -Paul W. McCracken
               -American Broadcasting Company [ABC] presentation
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Goodbye, Mr. President.
Hello.
President, that was a great job.
Well, it shook him up a little.
Well, it shook him up in a very good way.
I got all of them to give me a little report on that.
Apparently they're all...
They realize that we have the initiative for the moment, at least.
No, they really do, and a whole variety of... One I was most interested in, I don't know if you've seen Jack May.
Yeah, I got that.
Yeah, that was good.
You know, and Jack...
That was the one thing he talked to me right after that we hadn't had much chance to talk on that, and so he was quite pleased.
I think that you'll find it really will have wide support, and I think that it'll be on what it'll actually do substantially.
It'll feel psychologically like you've really moved in hard, and I think that really is the key to it.
Well, there's no doubt that the immediate reaction is going to be excellent.
It'll be, as you say, a follow-up in three or four weeks, but I think it really will be great.
Good.
We've got a good, wide program, as Bob probably told you, people on TV again.
Oh, I know.
That's great.
Great.
He told me about it.
Yeah.
Conley on it, too, which is good.
And then we've got some briefings here.
columnist, bureau chief, things like that.
Paul McCracken did a very good job on ABC tonight.
Good, good, good.
Well, I really congratulate you, sir.
Okay, thanks, sir.
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