Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 017-078
Date: Saturday, December 25, 1971 at 11:02 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Lauer, Michael; Lauer, Ann Marie; Lauer, Kathy; Lauer, Kevin
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-078
National Archives Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417191919 (NAID 417191919)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] I have Michael Lauer for you.
[0:04] On the 9th.
[0:05] Hello?
[0:07] Hello?
[0:07] Is this Michael?
[0:09] Yeah.
[0:10] Well, I wanted to call you to tell you that I have answered your letter.
[0:13] You'll probably get it in a couple days, but I want you to know that on this Christmas Day that Mrs. Nixon and I are thinking about you, and we know you've been through a very great tragedy, but you just remember that...
[0:28] that these things happen with lots of people.
[0:41] Your brother's all right.
[0:42] You can be sure of that.
[0:43] He's all right.
[0:45] And you just remember you're just 18 years of age and you've got a good life ahead.
[0:51] You just keep your idealism and keep up your hopes.
[0:54] Will you do that now?
[0:55] Sure, thanks a lot.
[0:57] And you just give my best to your family.
[0:58] How many other brothers and sisters do you have?
[1:03] One brother and two sisters.
[1:03] One brother.
[1:03] Are they there with your family?
[1:06] Yeah, they're out here.
[1:06] On Christmas Day?
[1:08] Yeah.
[1:08] And your mother there, too?
[1:10] Sure.
[1:10] I'll say hello to your mom.
[1:14] Well, Miss Lauer, your son wrote a beautiful letter to me, and I just told him that I know exactly how he felt.
[1:36] These things happen, and you can be sure we'll do our best to try to deal with these things in the future.
[1:44] And you have these wonderful family left, and you just keep your chin up now.
[1:49] And remember, the future's going to be all right.
[1:55] Why?
[1:56] Well, I know what a tragedy it is, but you just keep your faith, and you're going to be all right.
[2:02] Sure you are.
[2:05] To whom?
[2:07] Sure.
[2:08] What are their names?
[2:12] And Mary.
[2:13] And how old are you, hon?
[2:15] Fifteen.
[2:16] Well, that's a wonderful age, and you just, you just, you're going to have a great life now, and these tragedies happen in every family, and your brother, he's in a good place, you can be sure.
[2:36] Are you in, how old are you?
[2:38] I'm 21.
[2:39] You're the oldest one?
[2:42] No, Kevin's 21.
[2:42] Kevin's 21, and you're graduating from?
[2:44] Edward Howard.
[2:48] Oh, well, well, anyway, we just wish you the very best, and we know this is sort of a sad time in a way, but you make it a happy one for the family.
[2:56] Will you do that now?
[2:58] Fine.
[3:00] Kevin, you're the number one, huh?
[3:03] Yeah.
[3:03] Well, we just wish you the best, and I know that you've
[3:06] at a sad time because of the events, but you just remember the life is ahead of you, and it's going to be a good life.
[3:13] And you just, it's your job to keep your mother and the rest of the family, you just keep their spirits up.
[3:18] You do that now?
[3:20] You bet you will.
[3:21] All right.
[3:22] Merry Christmas.