Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 8 › Conversation 008-057

Nixon phone call with Yates on Presidential speech and Administrative support

Wednesday, September 8, 1971 · 7:40 PM–7:41 PM ET · White House Telephone · 56 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Yates, Nellie L.Conversation008-057 on Tape 8 (tape position 01:47:09–01:48:06)StartWednesday, September 8, 1971 at 7:40 PMEndWednesday, September 8, 1971 at 7:41 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 008-057 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted Nellie L. Yates to check on the progress of a draft for his upcoming speech to Congress. Yates explained that she was re-typing the document to correct spacing issues, prompting Nixon to reassure her and advise against rushing the task. They concluded the call by arranging for Yates to deliver the completed draft to the Lincoln Sitting Room later that evening for the President's review.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Hello.
Hello.
How are you coming on that draft?
Mr. President, I'm on page nine.
I wasn't leaving enough space in between, and I had to start over, but I'm going really fast now.
Take your time.
Take your time.
As a matter of fact, we need 8.30 is plenty of time.
When you finish it, if you could bring it over to the Lincoln sitting room, I'll be here, and then I'll take a quick look to see if there's any change we need to be made.
You may not like my spacing, but we'll take a look.
No, no, no.
It doesn't make any difference.
It does not?
No, no, no.
It isn't all that important.
Just, you know, run it off, because I can read it either way.
And don't worry about it, because you haven't done one before.
Don't let her worry you.
All right, I won't.
You just finish it.
Don't rush too much.
And I'll see you about 8.30.
Thank you.
If that works out, or 8.45, whenever it is.
Okay?
Yes, sir.
Fine.
At Lincoln Setting Room, whenever you get there.
Okay?
Yes, sir.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.

NARA Description

On September 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates talked on the telephone from 7:40 pm to 7:41 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-057 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 8-57

Date: September 8, 1971
Time: 7:40 pm - 7:41 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Nellie L. Yates.
     The President's forthcoming speech to Congress
          -Draft
                 -Typing
                      -Progress
                      -Timing
                 -Delivery to Lincoln Sitting Room
                      -Possible changes
                      -Spacing
                      -Timing

Also recorded on September 8, 1971

  • 008-054 3:08 PM · 41 sec — Raymond K. Price, Jr. and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 7:40 pm.
  • 008-055 3:08 PM · 2 min — Raymond K. Price, Jr., White House operator, and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 7:40 pm.
  • 008-056 3:08 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 7:40 pm.
  • 274-041 3:08 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 3:26 pm.
  • 274-044 3:26 PM · 1 hr 38 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:26 pm to 5:10 pm.
  • 274-045 5:10 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:10 pm and 5:35 pm.
  • 274-046 5:35 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Alexander P. Butterfield, Nellie L. Yates, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:35 pm to 6:05 pm.
  • 274-047 6:05 PM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:05 pm to 6:06 pm.

All 34 conversations from September 8, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 008-057, September 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/008-057 (accessed October 12, 2026).