Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 4 › Conversation 004-070

Nixon phone call with Tarr on Protests and Executive support

Tuesday, June 8, 1971 · 9:45 AM–9:47 AM ET · White House Telephone · 49 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Tarr, Curtis W.Conversation004-070 on Tape 4 (tape position 02:47:40–02:48:31)StartTuesday, June 8, 1971 at 9:45 AMEndTuesday, June 8, 1971 at 9:47 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 004-070 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Selective Service Director Curtis W. Tarr to commend his composed handling of an incident where protesters confronted him. Nixon praised Tarr’s vigorous and dignified reaction to the agitators, dismissing the demonstrators as exhibitionists. The conversation served as a gesture of executive support to reassure Tarr following the public, albeit unpleasant, confrontation.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Mr. Tarr, Mr. President.
Good morning, Mr. President.
I just wanted to congratulate you on that fine picture.
You looked strong and vigorous and manly, and I thought, boy, I wouldn't want to tackle you.
I bet you've got a lot of good comments on it, haven't you?
Well, I've gotten quite a few, but it was a very sad thing.
Well, of course it was sad, but my point is, the only thing you could do, I mean, when somebody is a little bit nuts, that's what they are.
They were exhibitionists, basically.
When they come charging at you like that, all you could do is throw it off, and you handled it with dignity.
And you just stay in there.
Never worry about it.
Many times, you know, you're better known by your enemies than your friends.
Okay.
Well, I appreciate the call.
Bye.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On June 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Curtis W. Tarr talked on the telephone from 9:45 am to 9:47 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 004-070 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 4-70

Date: June 8, 1971
Time: 9:45 am - 9:47 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Curtis W. Tarr.

[See Conversation No. 514-7C]

     Picture of Tarr
           -Tarr's conduct at event

Also recorded on June 8, 1971

  • 514-005 9:40 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:40 am and 9:43 am.
  • 514-006 9:40 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:40 am and 9:43 am.
  • 514-007 9:43 AM · 48 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Dwight L. Chapin, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Curtis W. Tarr, Stephen B. Bull, and Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:43 am to 10:31 am.
  • 004-068 9:44 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Dwight L. Chapin talked on the telephone from 9:44 am to 9:45 am.
  • 004-069 9:45 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:45 am.
  • 004-071 9:47 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:47 am and 1:45 pm.
  • 060-002 10:31 AM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon and members of the Board of Directors for Amtrak, including John A. Volpe, Roger Lewis, David W. Kendall, Catherine May Bedell, Gen. Frank S. Besson, David E. Bradshaw, John J. Gilhooley, Arthur D. Lewis, Charles Luna, John P. Olsson, William H. Moore, William J. Quinn, John D. Ehrlichman, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., Charles Clapp, and Donald B. Rice, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:31 am and 11:59 pm.
  • 514-008 11:06 AM · 48 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, George P. Shultz, Milton Friedman, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:06 am to 12:00 pm.

All 40 conversations from June 8, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 004-070, June 8, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/004-070 (accessed October 23, 2026).