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Conversation: 574-013

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Start Date: 17-Sep-1971 12:34 PM

End Date: 17-Sep-1971 12:49 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Rogers, GingerButterfield, Alexander P.Sanchez, ManoloWhite House photographer

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:24:23

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:38:27

574a.mp3

574b.mp3

NARA Description:

On September 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ginger Rogers, Alexander P. Butterfield, Manolo Sanchez, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:34 pm to 12:49 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 574-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 574-13

Date: September 17, 1971
Time: 12:34 pm - 12:49 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ginger Rogers and Alexander P. Butterfield.

     Rogers's schedule
         -Future plans
         -Long Island theater appearance
                -Coco
         -California
                -Dean Martin

     Broadway musical Coco
          -Plot
          -Success
                -Katherine Hepburn
          -Plot
          -Music

     Modern music

     The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
                                            52

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 574-13 (cont.)


          -Architecture
               -Modern style
               -Exterior
               -Interior
                     -Acoustics
                           -Los Angeles Music Center
          -Acoustics
               -Symphony
               -Music
                     -Igor Stravinsky
               -Jazz
               -Symphony
                     -Ludwig Van Beethoven
                     -Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
                     -Franz Liszt
          -Modern style of music
               -Leonard Bernstein
          -Wolf Trap performing arts park
               -Orchestra

An unknown person [Manolo Sanchez] entered at an unknown time after 12:34 pm.

     Refreshments
          -Coffee

The unknown person [Sanchez] left at an unknown time before 12:49 pm.

     Wolf Trap performing arts park
          -Acoustics
               -Curtain

     Kennedy Center
         -Tour
              -Rogers
              -Arrangements
                    -Car
         -David Bradley
         -Leonard Garment, Carol Harford, [Nancy Hanks]

     Henry A. Kissinger
         -Francis A. (“Frank”) Sinatra
                                        53

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                          Conv. No. 574-13 (cont.)


    -Bennet A. Cerf
           -Death
Rogers's family
    -Mrs. Phyllis F. Cerf
           -Relation to Rogers

Rogers
    -Career
    -Effect on people

Acting profession
     -Difficulty
     -Effect on people
           -Reward

Movies and theater
    -Values
          -No, No, Nannette
               -Audience reaction
                    -Type of material

Present day values
     -Morals
     -Articles
           -Rogers
                -Decency
     -Movies
           -Writers
                -The National Press Club

Photograph

Rogers
    -New York City
         -Fred Astaire
    -Theater performance
         -Hello Dolly
         -Fiorello
         -South Pacific
         -My Fair Lady
         -Oklahoma
                                            54

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 574-13 (cont.)


                -Brigadoon
                     -Comparison to present day shows

     Movies
         -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
         -The President's trips to Camp David
              -California
         -Age of movies selected for viewing
              -John Wayne
         -Rogers's movies
         -Present day movies
              -Sex
              -Women
                    -Clothing
              -Removal of element of mystery
                    -Nudity
              -Reactions by audience
              -Youth
                    -Demoralization
                    -Morale

The White House photographer and members of the press entered at an unknown time after
12:34 pm.

     Professional bowlers
          -Champions
          -National Bowlers Champion
          -Meeting at bowling alley
                -President’s bowling

The White House photographer and members of the press were no longer present at an unknown
time before 12:49 pm.

     Presidential gifts
          -Compact
                -Mrs. Nixon
                -Presidential seal
          -Cufflinks

     Rogers's support for the President
                                               55

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/06)
                                                                       Conv. No. 574-13 (cont.)


     Celebrities
          -Work
                 -Las Vegas
                 -Broadway
          -Business
          -Lack of support for conservatives
          -Stance of entertainment industry celebrities
                 -James (“Jimmy”) Stewart
                 -John Wayne
                 -Richard (“Red”) Skelton
                 -Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope

     Rogers

Rogers and Butterfield left at 12:49 pm.