Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 253 › Conversation 253-010

Nixon, Kiernan & Sanchez on Law enforcement and Police relations

Wednesday, May 26, 1971 · 2:17 PM–2:19 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo; Kiernan, Edward J.Conversation253-010 on Tape 253 (tape position 00:43:33–00:45:51)StartWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 2:17 PMEndWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 2:19 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 253-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon spoke with Edward J. Kiernan, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, to express support for law enforcement following a recent, troubling incident. During the brief discussion, Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining public respect for police officers in their efforts to combat criminal elements. The President concluded the call by requesting that Kiernan convey his encouragement and gratitude to the rank-and-file officers.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Hello?
I guess it's all to tell you that I, like I'm sure millions of people in this country, was deeply shocked by the events of the past few days.
And I want you to first, I will be writing, I am writing a documentary.
you know, people in your organization, people on the force, and the sense of the country, and that they keep that courage up for a hard time until they degrade the majority of the people in this country back.
And the fact that even the city turned out, I understand, in this case, and people from all over the country do.
They're not even safe in the country.
And I'm like, well,
Larry, uh, the, uh, you've, you've got the, about the, uh, the, uh, I was just down in Alabama yesterday, and I just made a point to be sure to speak whenever I could to one of those fellows, and thank you for what you're doing, because that's what we really did need to do, to keep you being still among us.
among decent people, respect for the men who protect us, protect us from criminal elements.
And, right, right.
Well, it's too bad that an incident like this has shocked people in their senses, but I think it had to do with that.
And in that respect, try, try.
Well, you said my best to the other men in the force.
Will you please?
Thank you.
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Edward J. Kiernan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:17 pm and 2:19 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 253-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 253-10

Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 2:17 pm - unknown before 2:19 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez

     The President’s assent

[The President talked with Edward J. Kiernan between 2:17 pm and 2:19 pm]

[Conversation No. 253-10A]

[See Conversation No. 3-130]

[End of telephone conversation]

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:19 pm

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

  • 003-130 2:17 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Edward J. Kiernan talked on the telephone from 2:17 pm to 2:19 pm.
  • 003-131 2:19 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:19 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 253-011 2:19 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:19 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 003-132 2:20 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 2:20 pm to 2:21 pm.
  • 253-012 2:20 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:20 pm to 2:21 pm.
  • 003-133 2:21 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.
  • 253-013 2:21 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.
  • 253-014 2:21 PM · 5 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 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.

All 83 conversations from May 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 253-010, May 26, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/253-010 (accessed October 3, 2026).