← 017-032017-034 →

Conversation 017-033

TapeTape 17StartFriday, December 24, 1971 at 5:22 PMEndFriday, December 24, 1971 at 5:24 PMTape start time01:36:09Tape end time01:37:52ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Alsop, Stewart J. O.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon initiated a brief holiday call to journalist Stewart Alsop to extend Christmas greetings and inquire about his improving health. The two discussed the National Cancer Act of 1971, with the President reflecting on the long-term significance of the program. They emphasized the potential for life-saving breakthroughs through improved diagnostic statistics and early treatment protocols.

National Cancer Act of 1971Public HealthCancer ResearchStewart AlsopPresidential Communication
AudioNARA Description

On December 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Stewart J. O. Alsop talked on the telephone from 5:22 pm to 5:24 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-033 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-33

Date: December 24, 1971
Time: 5:22 pm - 5:24 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House Operator.

     Call from Stewart J.O. Alsop

The President talked with Alsop.

     Christmas greetings

     Alsop's health

     [Unintelligible]

     National Cancer Act of 1971
          -President's program
          -Diagnosis
                -Statistics

**********************************************************************

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017. 4s
segment cleared for release. 16s remain closed as 017-033-w001.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-033-w001]
[Duration: 16s]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

[Personal Returnable]
[017-033-w001]
[Duration: 4s]

     Christmas greetings

**********************************************************************
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
I have Stuart also.
Yeah.
Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
I have nothing on my mind except to wish you a Merry Christmas and to say I'm so delighted to hear that your prospectus is better than it was when I talked to you on the phone last.
That's a great deal, Mr. President.
Good.
Very nice of you to call.
Good, good.
And much like Dr. Corsair, this is a collaboration.
That's the stuff.
Boy, I like that kind of aberrations.
We have a lot of them I don't like, but that's a good one.
That's a good one.
That's a good one.
That's a good one.
Well, you know, looking back someday, and we can only pray this will be the case, that really could turn out to have been the most important program we did.
When you stop at it, if it works.
I mean, now, God knows that there may not be an answer, a total answer, but there'll be some answer.
But if it would work,
You just think of the number of lives a year that are saved.
It's just unbelievable.
53 million of the people now alive.
Well, when they said that, I looked to my right and looked to my left and wondered, who's who?
You know?
That's right.
Right.
I think it'll at least help in getting a lot of comfort in the land.
Well, one thing it'll do, you know, I've studied this enough to know that about 40% could be saved by just diagnosis, quick treatment.
Thank you.
← 017-032017-034 →