President Nixon met with Nellie L. Yates in the Executive Office Building to coordinate the preparation and printing of an upcoming speech honoring Everett M. Dirksen. Beyond technical logistics regarding the speech’s formatting and delivery, the pair engaged in casual conversation about office decor, horticulture, and Yates’s dedicated work ethic. The meeting concluded with the President acknowledging Yates’s contributions to his administration.
On June 14, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:00 pm to 11:15 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 446-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 446-17
Date: June 14, 1973
Time: 10:00 pm - 11:15 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Nellie L. Yates.
Yates’s schedule
President’s edits
-Yates’s glasses
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. April-2013)
Conversation No. 446-17 (cont’d)
-Speech
Yates’s schedule
President’s forthcoming Dirksen Center speech
-President’s typing of speech
-Effort
-President’s schedule
-Speech preparation
-Printing of text of speech
-Departure time
-President’s forthcoming speech
-Arrangement of text
-Yates’s typewriter
-Yates’s printing of text
-Technique, length
-Venue for speech
-Outdoors
-Length of ceremony
-President’s previous speech in Florida
-Technique
President’s previous speech in Florida
-Typing
-Speech typewriter
-Possible release
-Example for speechwriting staff [?]
Everett M. Dirksen
-President’s assessment
-Yates’s memories
-Cigarettes
-Dirksen’s death
President’s office in the Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Flowers
-Yates’s flowers at her White House desk
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. April-2013)
Conversation No. 446-17 (cont’d)
-President’s bouquet
EOB Office furnishings
-Vietnamese object
-Lacquer
-Preparation time
-Yates’s work with pottery [?]
Flowers
-Yates’s experience
-President’s knowledge
-Beauty
Strawberries
-White House patio
Flowers
-President’s knowledge
-Types of flowers
Gift
-Reward for Yates’s service
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s statement
-Yates’s work ethic
Work ethic
-Phone calls
The President and Yates moved away from the microphones and continued meeting. The taping
system remained activated and continued to record.
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. April-2013)
Conversation No. 446-17 (cont’d)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Unintelligible]
[Duration: 42 m 54 s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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The President and Yates moved toward the microphones and continued meeting.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Deed of gift - Privacy]
[Duration: 2 m 33 s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Yates left at 11:15 pm.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.