Conversation 464-010

On March 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Fred Fassen, Foster J. Pratt, Arthur Schuettner, Raymond Ast, Emily T. Barhydt, Louis Blueth, Charles C. Fichtner, George E. Gilbert, Robert C. Gillingham, H. Benjamin Hendler, Florence Krieger, Leslie O. Long, A. O. Mathias, William J. Powell, Willie C. Ray, Jayne B. Spain, J. Cecil Sandberg, H. A. Tiller, Lola Tilly, Jennie S. Wilmot, Emma Woodward, Bernard E. Nash, Dorothy Crippen, Cyril Brickfield, Lloyd Wright, Charles Thomas, Bernard S. Van Rensselaer, John B. Martin, George T. Bell, Robert H. Finch, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:03 pm to 12:23 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 464-010 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 464-10

Date: March 9, 1971
Time: 12:03 pm - 12:23 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Fred Fassen, Foster J. Pratt, Arthur Schuettner, Raymond Ast, Emily T.
Barhydt, Dr. Louis Blueth, Dr. Charles C. Fichtner, George E. Gilbert, Dr. Robert C. Gillingham,
H. Benjamin Hendler, Florence Krieger, Leslie O. Long, A. O. Mathias, William J. Powell, Carl
R. Quast, Willie C. Ray, Jacob B. Spiegel, J. Cecil Sandberg, H. A. Tiller, Dr. Lola Tilly, Jennie
S. Wilmot, Emma Woodward, Bernard E. Nash, Dorothy Crippen, Cyril Brickfield, Lloyd
Wright, Charles Thomas, Bernard S. Van Rensselaer, John B. Martin, George T. Bell, and
Robert H. Finch; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting

     Introductions of members of the American Association of Retired Persons

     [General conversation]

     Welcome

     Oval Office
          -Previous visits by members
          -Decorations
          -Presidential seal carpet
                -Color
          -Portraits of George Washington
                -John Mills
                -Rembrandt Peale

     Portraits
           -Cabinet Room
                -Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt
                -[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson

             -Dwight D. Eisenhower
       -East Room
             -George and Martha Washington portraits
       -Dining Room
             -Abraham Lincoln

Problems of aging
     -Martin’s arrangement of meeting
     -Importance

Problems of youth
     -President’s meetings with astronauts
           -Astronauts’ visits to colleges and universities
     -Importance

Problems of aging
     -Medical care
     -Retirement
     -Solutions
           -Communication
                -Compared with youth
     -Importance of aged

Administration concerns
    -Social Security
    -Welfare reform
    -Quality of life for aging
    -President’s experience
          -Mother and father

Aged
       -Importance
       -Programs
       -Needs
       -Importance
             -Message to youth
       -Medical care
       -President’s support
             -White House Conference on Aging
       -Importance
             -Youth
       -White Conference on Aging

               -Follow-up on recommendations
                      -Administration
                      -Congress
               -Importance
           -Minorities in US

     Presidential gifts
          -Cufflinks
          -Key rings

     President’s thoughts of aging

     [General conversation]

Fassen, et al. left at 12:23 pm

No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.