Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 011-097
Date: Friday, October 15, 1971 at 9:09 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kendall, Donald McI.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/011-097

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:01] Mr. Kendall.
[0:02] Yeah.
[0:02] Hello, Mr. President.
[0:03] Hi, Don.
[0:04] Well, I was certainly sorry to hear about your father.
[0:07] It was such a shock, you know.
[0:10] But, you know, at that age, just to have something happen fast is probably the best thing.
[0:15] Well, I guess it... Was he driving the car himself?
[0:17] Yes, he was.
[0:18] Yeah.
[0:19] And, of course, he was in great shape physically and mentally.
[0:21] Well, I remember when he was here, yeah.
[0:23] He had just taken...
[0:24] He had his 83rd birthday in September and just taken up golf.
[0:28] Oh, boy.
[0:29] Yeah.
[0:30] Yeah, he was strong as an ox.
[0:31] Well, he was playing nine holes three times a week and was very proud of it, which challenged me to golf games.
[0:38] Yeah, yeah.
[0:39] Those things can reverse.
[0:40] Sure.
[0:41] And I think that...
[0:42] I think it's about the only way I can look at it is he at least went out with his boots on and in good shape.
[0:48] Look, at 83 years of age, he's had a good life, Don, and he's proud of what you've done and everything.
[0:52] Well, you made the highlight of his life when he came down to Washington.
[0:56] That's the thing that he talks about more than anything.
[0:58] I'm so glad you got him here, you know.
[1:01] That trip was really, as a matter of fact, when we were going back from the White House that day in the plane,
[1:08] He said, Sonny, they can take me now and it's all right.
[1:13] Well, that's great.
[1:14] That's great.
[1:15] Well, anyway, it's just one of those actions.
[1:19] We read about thousands of them every day, but it doesn't quite get on to yourself.
[1:23] No, it doesn't.
[1:23] Well, anyway, I wish you well.
[1:26] Thank you.
[1:27] I'm looking forward to seeing you this afternoon.
[1:28] I'm going to be over at Billy Graham.
[1:30] There will be a few thousand.
[1:32] I hope to see you.
[1:34] Then Conley is coming back with us to the business council.
[1:40] Good.
[1:40] I know he told me he was.
[1:41] He's coming down with me.
[1:43] I'm bringing him in the plane.
[1:45] That's what he said, and then we're taking him from there.
[1:47] Okay, Don.
[1:48] All right.
[1:49] Thank you so much for coming.