Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 450 › Conversation 450-002

Nixon with unidentified visitors in the Oval Office on Visual aids

Tuesday, February 16, 1971 · 7:56 AM–8:58 AM ET · Oval Office ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)]Conversation450-002 onTape 450 (tape position 00:05:18–00:09:12)StartTuesday, February 16, 1971 at 7:56 AMEndTuesday, February 16, 1971 at 8:58 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 450-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon held a brief morning meeting with an unidentified individual, likely a staff member or technician, to discuss the technical operation or arrangement of specific presentation materials. The conversation focused on the sequential layering of visual aids, using color-coded references to organize the content. No substantive policy matters were addressed, as the exchange remained limited to these logistical or instructional tasks before the President's scheduled meeting with Melvin Laird and the Cabinet.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh, there are other layers in there, sir.
You're supposed to start with the black layer over here.
You're supposed to get the red layer.
That's a good thing.
You're supposed to get the black layer over here.
You're supposed to get the red layer over here.
We won't get you again, boy.

NARA Description

On February 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:56 am and 8:58 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 450-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 450-2

Date: February 16, 1971
Location: Oval Office

The President met with an unknown man

     Schedule
          -Melvin R. Laird
          -Cabinet meeting

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 8:58 am

Also recorded on February 16, 1971

  • 450-026 6:56 AM · 41 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:56 am and 8:58 am.
  • 450-001 7:56 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:56 am and 8:58 am.
  • 047-001 8:04 AM — President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and members of the Cabinet, including William P. Rogers, John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Winton M. ("Red") Blount, Jr., Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P. Shultz, Robert H. Finch, and staffers H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Henry A. Kissinger, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Peter M. Flanigan, Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Alexander P. Butterfield, Ronald L. Ziegler, William L. Safire, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Robert J. Brown, Paul W. McCracken, Arnold R. Weber, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Arthur J. Sohmer, Robert E. Patricelli, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., John R. Price, Jr., and Gary Cook, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:04 am and 11:59 pm.
  • 450-003 8:58 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:58 am.
  • 450-004 8:58 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:58 am and 9:17 am.
  • 450-005 9:17 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. B. Everett Jordan met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:17 am to 9:19 am.
  • 450-006 9:19 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:19 am and 9:35 am.
  • 450-007 9:19 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:19 am and 9:35 am.

All 20 conversations from February 16, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 450-002, February 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/450-002 (accessed September 18, 2026).