Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 278 › Conversation 278-045

Nixon with unidentified visitors in his EOB office on Military draft

Thursday, September 16, 1971 · 9:20 AM–10:33 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]Conversation278-045 on Tape 278 (tape position 01:59:13–02:02:08)StartThursday, September 16, 1971 at 9:20 AMEndThursday, September 16, 1971 at 10:33 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 278-045 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and an unknown associate discuss urgent legislative strategies regarding an extension bill for the military draft. The participants analyze the timing of a recent legislative vote and the necessity of coordinating with figures like George P. Shultz and F. Edward Hébert to influence the Senate. Nixon emphasizes the need for a swift, decisive approach to manage political deadlines and ensure the success of the administration's policy objectives.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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With regard to that, the vote on the draft, what time did it take place?

Find out.

The point is that what we have to get

On a crash basis, before 4 o'clock, the boat had lost, and at that time, I had a common one.

And I invited Brad, and he said, I don't even know where our shelter is anymore.

I don't think we can put them up there.

So on the other hand, I'm going to touch that.

Thank you.

In charge of this answer, you see what it means.

The answer is going to tell us something about the tax, and I'm going to do it at this time.

It's going to tell us something about the tax, and I'm going to do it at this time.

I'm going to do it at this time.

Here's the thing, if you know what you're doing, basically what you're doing is you're going to be quite looking to the center.

You're going to be right there.

Come on.

NARA Description

On September 16, 1971, 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 9:20 am and 10:33 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 278-045 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 278-45

Date: September 16, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:20 am and 10:33 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

     Draft extension bill
           -Time of action, vote
           -George P. Shultz, F. Edward Hébert
           -Deadline, time
           -Senate
           -Tactics

Also recorded on September 16, 1971

009-034 9:20 AM · 56 sec — Stephen B. Bull, the White House operator, and unknown person(s) [George P. Shultz's secretary] talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
009-035 9:20 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
278-040 9:20 AM · 8 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 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
278-041 9:20 AM · 23 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 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
278-042 9:20 AM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
278-043 9:20 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
278-044 9:20 AM · 4 sec — 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 9:20 am and 10:33 am.
278-046 9:20 AM · 7 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 9:20 am and 10:33 am.

All 52 conversations from September 16, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 278-045, September 16, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/278-045 (accessed October 12, 2026).