Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 6 › Conversation 006-195

Nixon phone call with Alsop on PRC initiative and Cancer research

Friday, July 23, 1971 · 9:48 AM–9:51 AM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Alsop, Stewart J. O.Conversation006-195 on Tape 6 (tape position 04:57:03–04:59:36)StartFriday, July 23, 1971 at 9:48 AMEndFriday, July 23, 1971 at 9:51 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 006-195 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called journalist Stewart J.O. Alsop to express personal support following news of Alsop's recent health diagnosis. The conversation included Nixon’s appreciation for Alsop’s objective reporting and support regarding the administration’s recent initiative to open relations with the People's Republic of China. Nixon also reaffirmed his commitment to significantly expanding federal funding for cancer research as a high priority.

  • Stewart J.O. Alsop
  • PRC initiative
  • Cancer research
  • Media relations
  • Presidential health initiatives

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Hello, Mr. President?
Stu?
Very kind of you to call.
Well, look, I just heard you had a bad break, and I wanted you to know we were thinking about you, and I'll be out to see you one day.
Well, that's awfully kind of you, sir.
And just, you know, the main thing is keep that old spirit up.
It's tough, but, you know, it's easy, you know, to sit here and say that, but by golly, you know, I was just talking to Henry a few minutes ago, and
And I was telling him I was trying to reach him, and he said, you know, he said, of all the sons of bitches that really ought to be out there, and here's two LSOPs out there.
Well, I appreciate those sentiments.
But no, but my gosh, you know, through those hard days, believe me, you know, it's those terribly difficult times when you knew, well...
We were trying to do the best we could, and, you know, you gave us the breaks.
You gave us the breaks.
And what I mean is you gave us a chance to, in a fair shake, and the rest.
And, of course, now a lot of people are sort of saying, well, this China thing is a good thing, whether it is or not, only time will tell.
But believe me, we know who are really good friends and who have,
really helped when we needed it, and also who did it very objectively.
And I just want you to know that I'm... Well, thank you, Mr. President.
I hope you get your cancer research going pretty quick.
well let me say uh let's see 100 million dollars i'll double it i'll double it money will do it we'll do it all right and uh of course the kind that this thing is the one that uh has a different prognosis uh you know it's uh of course as they've all as you know probably told more anybody else than and uh we uh we'll uh
You've got a little more time.
No, seriously.
And let's see what we come, see what we get through here.
Well, I've got a chance.
And you sure have.
And you're in the best place.
Apparently they're very good.
Oh, they're awfully good.
But let me say that I'll drop out, Stu, one day.
I know you can have visitors.
And I'll drop out once we get a little more information and we'll have a chat.
Good.
Well, that would mean a lot to me.
Well, good to talk to you.
Good to talk to you, Stu.

NARA Description

On July 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stewart J. O. Alsop talked on the telephone from 9:48 am to 9:51 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-195 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 6-195

Date: July 23, 1971
Time: 9:48 am - 9:51 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Stewart J.O. Alsop.

[See Conversation No. 544-4B]

     Alsop's health
          -President's conversation with Henry A. Kissinger

     Alsop's aid to administration

     President's People's Republic of China [PRC] initiative

     President's cancer research project

     President's schedule

Also recorded on July 23, 1971

  • 544-001 9:38 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:38 am to 9:40 am.
  • 006-194 9:40 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:40 am and 9:48 am.
  • 544-002 9:40 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:40 am.
  • 544-003 9:40 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:40 am.
  • 544-004 9:40 AM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stewart J. O. Alsop, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:40 am to 10:21 am.
  • 006-196 9:51 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:51 am and 1:55 pm.
  • 544-005 10:21 AM · 8 sec — Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:21 am and 10:25 am.
  • 544-006 10:21 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:21 am and 10:25 am.

All 20 conversations from July 23, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 006-195, July 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-195 (accessed October 9, 2026).