Conversation 308-009

TapeTape 308StartFriday, December 10, 1971 at 6:27 PMEndFriday, December 10, 1971 at 6:37 PMTape start time00:12:19Tape end time00:16:10ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Schecter, Jerrold L.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building

AI Summary

President Richard Nixon provided journalist Jerrold L. Schecter with an informal tour of his Old Executive Office Building (EOB) workspace, highlighting the office's personal significance and historical function. Nixon described the room as a venue for private, high-level discussions with key advisors such as Henry Kissinger, John Mitchell, and Melvin Laird. The discussion emphasized the President's preference for this intimate setting to conduct work and manage administration affairs away from the more formal environment of the Oval Office.

Old Executive Office BuildingPresidential workspaceExecutive staffWorking environmentNixon administration

Audio

NARA Description

On December 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Jerrold L. Schecter met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:27 pm to 6:37 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 308-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 308-9

Date: December 10, 1971
Time: 6:27 pm- 6:37 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Jerrold L. Schecter.

     White House operators
          -Praise from the President

     The President's work
          -Desk
               -Michael J. Mansfield
               -Speeches
                      -Final copies

     EOB office
         -The Vice President’s materials [?]
         -Gavels
         -Meetings with staff
               -William P. Rogers
               -Melvin R. Laird
               -Henry A. Kissinger
               -John N. Mitchell
               -John D. Ehrlichman
               -George P. Shultz
               -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
         -The President's desk
               -Books
                     -William L. Safire
                     -Daniel P. Moynihan

The President and Schecter left at 6:37 pm.

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

And the operators are without question.

The theater staff, since you're there, fantastic.

Let's see what's going on.

I move over here to my right.

Then my manager will give me that.

Speakers.

Yeah, these are vice presidents.

Everything in this school, that's all vice presidents.

These are all, as you can see, gables.

It's a nice room to work in.

It is personal.

Going back to home.

It's a great way to do it.

Oh, good day.

We have many of these common themes, common concepts here.

Robert Laird changed his mind often.

you know, just in the afternoon.

We sit and relax, play, and put our feet up.

John Mitchell would come in early.

Charles Paul was the first.

We'd sit around here.

We'd sit in here and talk for hours.

Rather than the other way, sometimes we would say, it's a busy day, I have to spend time over there.

But if I've got time,

I'll go over here and I'll be working on the art, and I'll come on over and spend an hour or two.

And as you can see, this is the tradition.

And even with that, they come here, and they, they'll, their items, they're a little more alive.

And that, that was important.

And, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and,

This one I haven't read yet.

Bill Sapphire.

Good night.

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