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Conversation 385-020

TapeTape 385StartMonday, December 11, 1972 at 5:42 PMEndMonday, December 11, 1972 at 7:10 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Eisenhower, Julie Nixon;  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower discuss domestic living arrangements and renovations within the White House residence. The conversation centers on the practical necessity of installing a refrigerator in the President's bedroom to provide late-night convenience and privacy, away from the custodial staff and potential intruders. They also evaluate ongoing modifications to the kitchen, dining areas, and bathroom facilities to improve the comfort and security of the First Family's private quarters.

White House residenceHome renovationsDomestic securityFamily privacyExecutive Mansion infrastructure
AudioNARA Description

On December 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:42 pm and 7:10 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 385-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 385-20

Date: December 11, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:42 pm and 7:10 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       The President’s Christmas gifts

       The President’s foot

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 5:42 pm and 7:10
pm.

[Conversation No. 385-20A]

       White House
             -Refrigerator in bedroom
                    -Plan
                            -Executive Office Building [EOB]

[End of telephone conversation]

Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 5:42 pm and
7:10 pm.

[Conversation No. 385-20B]

       Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                                            -30-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. July-08)

                                                            Conversation No. 385-20 (cont’d)

[End of telephone conversation]

       Refrigerator
              -Hotel room

       White House
             -Residence
                     -Changes
                            -Mrs. Nixon
                     -Family dining room
                            -Serving pantry
                                    -Blue Room, Red Room
                                    -Breakfasts
                                    -State dinners
                     -Restrooms
                            -Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s grandmother
                            -Escorts
                     -Kitchen
             -Solarium
                     -Edward V. Jones
             -Kitchen
                     -Renovation
                            -Bar
                            -The President’s schedule
                                    -Nights
                                            -Refrigerator
                                            -Speeches
                                    -Mornings
                                            -Custodial staff
                     -Unknown person
                            -Range cleaning

Julie Nixon Eisenhower left at an unknown time before 7:10 pm.
                                             -31-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. July-08)
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.

Good, because we can't think of anything for Christmas.
Well, I don't think.
No, but I mean, that would be good.
You know what it is?
You're probably very sick.
I've got to go now.
There was a plan for a for putting refrigerators in my bedroom .
Thank you.
Good.
Thank you.
I want to tell you that I couldn't agree more about that ice box.
You know, that's the thing about a hotel room.
It's only a refrigerator or whatever you want to call it.
There's not so much security here.
I told him to call me if I don't come down here again.
I don't know.
But yeah, I think it, you know, I mean, there's a lot of change in the process.
It's always changed.
And it's like putting in that serving pantry and putting in that dressing room pantry and putting it back in there.
It'll be better.
It'll be better.
Because the family bathroom is not as good as the free room.
And they have those betters as the blue room and the red room.
You ever practice that?
I've never used it.
Well, I use it.
You're right.
You're right.
You're right.
That's right.
Every single time there's a stage, you know, they have to tear that room apart.
Tear it apart.
Just to get really close.
And also, I've seen people get really close to that.
Oh, unbelievable.
That is gross.
Most people are older.
I've never seen it.
You know, that is just... You've got to have a personal problem with many women.
You've got to be right up there.
Right.
It's just horrible to sit there.
Sit there for 30 hours.
It's humiliating.
It's humiliating.
A five-minute walk with a stranger.
It wouldn't make it a big problem.
It's a nice, pleasant walk.
How old is he?
He's got a three-door back kitchen upstairs.
I should have bought it four years ago.
I got that kitchen.
It's never been built like that in the first place.
Terrible.
It looks like a restaurant.
Well, he didn't look at the kitchen because he's not bald now.
You have a kitchen, man.
What is it?
A beautiful thing.
A beautiful bar and everything.
When I wake up in the middle of the night,
Even when I wake up and walk, that fog, it wakes me up more.
Right.
You just go over.
Well, another thing is, sometimes if you've been up all night on the street, at 9.30 you'll wake up at night.
You go to that restaurant, you wake up at 9.30, and then there's people out there, and then you have to sneak around.
That's right.
Right.
You don't want to have people out there.
Or, the other thing is, early in the morning sometimes I wake up.
Yeah.
And, uh, I would encourage you to say to God, here's somebody, some old, uh, clean water.
Well, they should be around.
They should not be around.
You know who I run into all the time?
It's that old man.
He's there at 791.
Clean and ready to die free.
I don't know.
I don't know.
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