H. R. Haldeman - "Give Allende the Hook" (Nixon Tapes) lyrics

Conversation No. 584-003 Date: October 5, 1971 Time: 9:12 a.m. – 1:11 p.m. Location: Oval Office Participants: Nixon, Haldeman, John Connally, and Henry Kissinger Connally: Now, I figure—I had something, another thing to tell you: You have to really—The gauntlet's been thrown down to you on Chile, and we ought to move on Chile. Nixon: What? How? Connally: Well, this guy just—Allende—obviously, now, the columnists are all saying it strongly, even, I [think], the [Washington] Post or the [Washington] Star this afternoon or this morning had an editorial that—I guess it's the Star, I guess that's it—just said, “Well, we thought there was some hope, but it's beyond hope now.” Nixon: Well— Connally: He's [Allende] gone back and said that the copper companies owe $700 million. It's obviously a farce, and obviously, he's a—he doesn't intend to compensate for the expropriated properties. He's thrown down—He's thrown the gauntlet to us. Now, it's our move. Nixon: Listen, and you—I have decided: you give us a plan, we'll carry it out. Connally: So— Nixon: Don't worry. This is a—This is one where I knew he would do it, and we're going to play it very tough with him. Connally: Well, we've got Peru going now. We've got Peru— Nixon: On our side. Connally: On our side. Nixon: That's right. Connally: We've got Bolivia going on our side, and this guy Allende gets away with it. But it's a matter that Henry will have to get into. Nixon: Now, well, that's right. But, but I—But I have decided we're going to give Allende the hook. Connally: I just think it's awfully important... Nixon: We're— Connally: ...to drive your point home, because he's an enemy [unclear]— Nixon: Oh, of course he's an enemy. Connally: [Unclear] salvaged, and the only thing you can ever hope is to have him overthrown, and, in the meantime, you will make your point to prove, by your actions against him, what you want, that you are looking after American interests, and this a, this is— Nixon: Well, it—John, it may find the guy we can kick. You know, you always said, “Let's find somebody in this world we can kick.” Connally: That's right. Nixon: And I think we should make a helluva case out of him. Like I just said, we're not going to take this. Haldeman: It would earn a bit with the rightwing in this country. [Connally left at an unknown time after 11:59 a.m. Henry A. Kissinger entered at 12:02 p.m.] [...] Niixon: Before we get into that, another subject I want to talk to you: Allende, according to Connally, is really screwing us now. Kissinger: That's right. Nixon: All right, I want—and I hope I proved to Connally—I said, “All right, you give us a plan. I'm goin' to kick ‘em. And I want to make something out of it.” That's my view. Now— Kissinger: I talked to— Nixon: —do you see any reason that I should not? Kissinger: No, I talked—In fact, Connally and I talked about it yesterday. Nixon: Yeah. Yeah. Kissinger: I would go to a confrontation with him, the quicker the better. Nixon: Fine. But the point is— Kissinger: Maybe not in a brutal way, but in a clear way. Nixon: Yeah. All right, will you work with Connally— Kissinger: Absolutely. Nixon: —to figure out the confrontation? Now, is there any—is there any—? Kissinger: We may have to bu*ter up the Peruvians, in order—I think we ought to make a distinction between the Peruvians, who have nationalized— Nixon: That's right. Kissinger: —have been, at least— Nixon: Bolivia and Peru. Kissinger: And, I forgot to tell you that last night, but I'll work with Connally. Nixon: That's right. [...] Nixon: All's fair on Chile. Kick ‘em in the a**. Ok? Kissinger: Right.