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Conversation 335-014

TapeTape 335StartWednesday, May 3, 1972 at 2:30 PMEndWednesday, May 3, 1972 at 2:40 PMTape start time00:44:53Tape end time00:54:20ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Andrews, John K., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and speechwriter John K. Andrews, Jr. met to edit the draft of the President’s eulogy for J. Edgar Hoover. They discussed the tone and content of the speech, agreeing to keep it brief while emphasizing Hoover’s historical stature and his role in maintaining law and order. The pair also addressed the political climate surrounding Hoover's legacy, specifically addressing criticisms from figures like Benjamin Spock and Jerry Rubin while refining the text for the President’s final delivery.

J. Edgar HooverEulogySpeechwritingLaw and OrderPublic Relations
AudioNARA Description

On May 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:30 pm to 2:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 335-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 335-14

Date: May 3, 1972
Time: 2:30-2:40 pm.
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with John K. Andrews, Jr.

     Greetings

     Eulogy for J. Edgar Hoover
          -Length
          -The President’s view
                -Hoover
                     -Recognition
          -Appreciation for Hoover
          -Hoover's greatness
          -Relationship with President
                -Reference
                     -Amount of emphasis
          -Hoover's greatness
                -Addition
                -References
                     -Winston S. Churchill
          -Deletions
          -References to the President's relationship with Hoover
                -Other remarks by columnists and other speakers
          -Length
          -Law and order, permissiveness
          -References to children
                -Deletions
                -Transition
          -Conclusion
                -Law and order in US
                     -Deletion

                                    (rev. Nov-01)

     -Draft of eulogy
          -Deletions
     -Delivery
          -Whitney M. Young funeral
     -Opportunity for President

Attacks on Hoover
     -[Thomas] Hale Boggs
           -The President’s vew
     -Dr. Benjamin Spock
     -Jerry Rubin
     -New York Times

Hoover
    -President's relationship
          -House Un-American Activities Committee
          -The President’s view
    -Civil liberties
          -World War II
                -Roscoe Drummond's comments
                -Franklin D. Roosevelt's request
          -Position on Communist Party
                -Comments of Drummond
    -The President’s view
    -Lyndon B. Johnson
    -Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
          -The President’s view
          -Effect on US respect for law

Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
     -New director
          -Delay
                -Reasons

Eulogy
     -Draft
          -Return to President
               -Time
     -Changes
          -Additions
               -President's relationship with Hoover
     -Draft

                                        (rev. Nov-01)

                -Time
          -President's relationship with Hoover

Andrews left at 2:40 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.

Hello, Mr. Reynolds.
Hi, John.
I've decided to cut this down to around...
One thought that is not in here that seems to me to be worth working into, might try, is that one of the ironies or tragedies of life is that many great men, the greatness of many great men, find that they're, that the greatness of many men
It's not recognized until after their death.
You know, it's a nice little gift.
Well, they had a chance to take stock of it.
Take stock of it.
And also, people tend to be more charitable.
I mean, we're at Hoover, which I recognize.
It may be worth it.
I think it is.
I was thinking about the great times today.
I never had an adequate appreciation of it myself.
That was the last couple of days when I tried to decide about it.
Yeah.
But his greatness was recognized.
I didn't try to put in much.
I don't know.
I didn't try to put in much about your personal relationship with him.
I don't think you'd like to answer.
I don't.
I think I've covered that.
I don't think that should be in this one.
You know what I mean?
I covered it.
You know, it's one of the giant things that I wondered.
Do you think it's too trite?
I don't think so, because I don't think it applies to very many men.
One of the real problems that I perceive with a thing like this is that so much will already have been said by the time you get to speak.
That's right.
That's why we ought to make it very brief.
It's good about the children, but I think it's expected to go, you know, and so forth.
So it would move rather nicely here, you can see on it.
I don't think we'll say that it's a more law-abiding country, a bigger country.
I mean, it is more law-abiding than it would have been had he not lived.
But to a hell of a lot of people, it's not a law-abiding country.
It's still a decline overall.
That's right.
So therefore, we won't say it.
That's it.
So would you put off another copy of the...
Do you intend to do it from the, to read it?
As I remember for Whitney Young, you didn't, you spoke on September 8th.
I haven't had the time.
Yes.
He deserves this kind of tribute, and also it's an effective opportunity, I think, for you to put yourself on the side of the angels.
There are a few people that didn't ease up, but Dr. Spock said, what a relief.
Great.
Great.
I'm just delighted.
Jerry Rubin said that's wonderful.
Abby Hoffman.
New York Times.
This one.
Actually worked with him during the House of American Activities.
I'm not one of the troopers.
I'm not one of the troopers.
I'm not one of the troopers.
I'm not one of the troopers.
I'm not one of the troopers.
I'm not one of the troopers.
I'm not one of the troopers.
And Drummond also said Hoover had always vigorously opposed outlawing his party because he didn't want to drag them underground and make more of a problem out of them than they already were.
People don't associate that kind of moderation with burning homes.
The point about Cain is that Cain was basically a very, very eloquent leader, and Cain's net effect has been
Sandy, do you need a job of picking the next band?
I don't think of anything else.
I don't.
I'm tempted to put in.
Something about the person that I...
I think that you covered that yesterday.
I think so.
Right.
It's not particularly favorable to remind people of this game at this point, I don't think.
It's five o'clock.
Thank you very much.
The only thing you can do apart from that is that I can...
The only way I can say it is that I...
I think it's fine.
I tried this way so that it just states it out.
I think the personal relationship will come out in the deliberated.
That's right.
That's right.
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