Reagan racism recorded

In a newly released audio recording of an October 1971 conversation with President Richard Nixon, then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan is heard making racist remarks about a Tanzanian delegation to the United Nations.

WASHINGTON – In a newly released audio recording of an October 1971 conversation with President Richard Nixon, then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan is heard making racist remarks about a Tanzanian delegation to the United Nations.

In an article published Tuesday in The Atlantic, New York University history professor Tim Naftali writes that the conversation took place the day after the U.N. voted to recognize China’s communist government.

Members of the Tanzanian delegation celebrated the decision to seat a delegation from Beijing by dancing in the General Assembly. That infuriated Reagan, who called Nixon to tell him he thought the U.S. should “get the hell out” of the U.N., which he called a “kangaroo court.”

“Last night, I tell you, to watch that thing on television as I did,” Reagan said. “To see those monkeys from those African countries – damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes.”

Nixon burst out into laughter.. “Well, and the tail wags the dog there, doesn’t it? The tail wags the dog,” the president said. Reagan agreed.

Reagan’s 2004 death ended any privacy concerns, and two weeks ago the National Archives agreed to release the conversations online, Naftali said.