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Conversation 337-024

TapeTape 337StartWednesday, May 10, 1972 at 3:35 PMEndWednesday, May 10, 1972 at 3:55 PMTape start time03:54:37Tape end time04:10:46ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Woods, Rose MaryRecording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods discussed administrative logistics, including the distribution of commemorative gifts from recent events, and reflected on his recent Duke Law School reunion. The conversation transitioned into a review of domestic and international reaction to Nixon's speech regarding the blockade and mining of North Vietnam, noting high public approval ratings. The two also exchanged views on the erosion of American social institutions, the mistreatment of Vietnam veterans, and the perceived influence of left-wing ideology in American schools.

Vietnam WarNixon administrationPublic opinionDuke Law SchoolDomestic policyCommemorative gifts
AudioNARA Description

On May 10, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 3:55 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 337-024 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 337-24

Date: May 10, 1972
Time: 3:35-3:55 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

     Gifts
             -Official party, unofficial party, technicians
             -Cufflinks, tiebars

                                      (rev. Nov-01)

    Duke Law School reunion

    Gifts
            -Cufflinks
                 -Placement
                 -President's use

    Manolo Sanchez
        -Health
        -Telephone call from the President

    Dinner for law school classmates
        -Appearance of classmates compared to President
        -Entertainment
        -President's remarks
        -Caspar W. Weinberger's comments

    Vietnam
         -Blockade
              -President's speech
                    -Public response
                          -Polls
              -Protests
                    -Violence
                          -Public response

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 36s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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                                  (rev. Nov-01)

President's previous speech on Vietnam blockade and mining
     -Drafting
     -Walter H. Annenberg
            -Call

President's schedule
     -Camp David
     -Miami
     -Camp David

Vietnam
     -President's previous speech on blockade and mining
           -Response
                 -John F. Kennedy
                       -Initial US involvement
                 -Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes
     -Tonkin Gulf incident
           -President's comments
     -American soldiers
     -Congress
           -Lack of support for General infantry [GIs]
     -President's policies
           -US role in the world
           -Critics
                 -Communists and left-wing
                 -Joseph McCarthy

American society
    -Schools
    -Religion
          -Protestants
          -Catholics
          -Presbyterians

Camp David
    -Bowling
    -Birch Lodge

Ernest F. Hollings
     -Future

People's Republic of China [PRC] ping-pong team

                                         (rev. Nov-01)

     A Chinese artifact

Woods left at 3:55 pm.
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.

Wow.
These are the, you know, the three things.
They used one for the official party and unofficial, and I had one for the press, and I gave them one for the technician.
And then they made up, I think that's for you, I don't know.
They used a pair of cufflinks out of the official team.
And tied it.
That's very nice.
Oh, that's very nice.
That's very nice.
That's very nice.
That's very nice.
Well, we sort of did that last week, but I stopped around.
Oh, I thought, um... You want these put anywhere or just put away?
Um... Well, I'll tell you, the cup next to me should be...
I'm aware of this.
Yeah, I am.
Easy.
Oh good, I bet he was so pleased to hear that.
He was so mad that he wasn't out of room.
Time to get your call yesterday.
Oh, look at him, all of them.
No, you know, I couldn't believe it when I saw the pictures of some of them.
I thought they were in school with you.
I think some of them look a lot older than I do, but maybe yes.
Oh yes, they do.
So if you had a boring life, and there's probably a lot of dissipate, and if you don't have something with enthusiasm to keep up, I think that's when people start looking a lot older.
They're having a great time.
I'm sure they do.
Right, we heard it.
He was very pleased.
He was pleased.
He thought it came off wrong.
He thought it was just beautifully done.
He was very, just very pleased about it.
Well, we continue to get there.
We continue to get there.
The reaction rate is cold, over 70%.
That's fantastic.
The world is something that we've got to try to lessen.
We need to get it, folks.
I thought what was wrong.
I stirred up.
Madeline's a good kid.
All of these kids, they're just waiting for any excuse to try and do something on Madeline.
I think most of those kids are dead.
Oh, I think so.
I think everyone, no matter what they feel about it, there's just people rioting.
And the other thing, when they go around breaking windows and trying to set fire to places, the best doesn't get anybody anywhere, I don't think.
People resent that.
Oh.
Oh, that's better.
And then you have to give it.
You have to write it for something else.
He's gotten off somewhere, he doesn't make a call.
Oh.
Oh, that would be better.
Yeah.
And then you have to give it to your band up.
You have to write it for someone else.
Yeah.
I can't take everybody home, that's the problem.
I have a car too.
Nobody anymore thinks I'm away when I can't take them.
Because I know that's where I can speak to the plants.
Hello?
The thing that a couple of people are calling us to say is the same thing here.
It's one of the many houses that has come to us seven or eight years ago.
Yeah.
And it's funny to think that Kennedy's caught, you know, they, they, the people are thinking.
Well, God damn it, Kennedy's had the first 35,000 people in there.
First.
First.
And Don Hughes said that, you know, he's made me talk to a team of other people, you know, kind of worked upon that.
He did.
He thought that everything was great.
He said that he wanted to tell you, he was so proud of it.
He remembers that in 1965, he met your peer, the mayor of Iowa, and he talked about, every time, that Tompkins, Gulf of Tompkins, Tompkins Berry thing.
That you said that was what should be done.
Sure.
The two of you agreed with that.
Well, I said it should be mine.
That was something that fell many years ago, and you had to go
That's right.
And they're where they know.
And I think, I think the fact that people, they're all gone like she said, and it's from our conference on Sunday.
I think they are, I think it's terribly hard on the fighting man the way our idiots have behaved.
Not now as much as even all along they've done.
They've tried to erode any morale they could have.
Yeah, well, I'm talking to Julie about it.
You know what they want?
They want all of the benefits of a great country.
They want to remain free.
They want to be able to kick everybody around and strike.
You can't do it, but they couldn't do what they do here in Indiana.
I'll tell you, it really is.
It's gone and gone like when it's iconic.
It's right back to it.
It's iconic.
It's infiltrated our whole way of life, years ago.
I mean, it is there in all the schools there.
Oh, McCarthy was right.
Oh, McCarthy was right.
If he hadn't been so hard.
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