Nixon White House TapesTape 467 › Conversation 467-026

Nixon & Colmer on F. Edward Hébert and CBS

Wednesday, March 17, 1971 · 3:21 PM–3:23 PM ET · Oval Office ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colmer, William M.Conversation467-026 onTape 467 (tape position 02:01:46–02:03:51)StartWednesday, March 17, 1971 at 3:21 PMEndWednesday, March 17, 1971 at 3:23 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 467-026 ↗

President Nixon checked on Representative William M. Colmer’s recovery following a recent surgery and discussed plans for a future lunch meeting during the upcoming Easter recess. The two men also briefly touched upon the President’s travel schedule to California and Nixon’s support for F. Edward Hébert in his public opposition to a CBS news story. The conversation concluded with Colmer reaffirming his commitment to supporting the President's legislative agenda and the military.

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Yeah, I'm just calling to see how you're doing after your operation.
Well, not a, not a thing, I mean, yeah.
Tell me, did the company, did they, did they, they came off a rock?
Good.
Are you, are you in the city?
They want to hear lunches a little later in the spring.
That's right with you.
Yeah.
I'm going to go out to California.
I have to go, not this year, but next week for a week, and then I'll be back here right after this.
Easter recess, I think, would be a good time.
Is that right with you?
Let everybody be back in the kitchen.
The kitchen's good about then.
Goodbye.
Good to see you.
I'm fine.
How was your, did they work out, did they come up with a little contrast in your dish?
You didn't.
You didn't eat it, did you?
It was bad?
Listen, you deserved it, believe me.
I did my best to look brash and frantic on it.
I called Eddie Hayter and thanked him for taking on CBS.
I thought that was disgraceful what they did to Frantic House.
Kidding.
Wasn't that awful?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Don't worry about that.
I just want to work.
I want to work for my friends and I want to work for the military.
You betcha lot.
Bye.

On March 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William M. Colmer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:21 pm to 3:23 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 467-026 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 467-26

Date: March 17, 1971
Time: 3:21 pm - 3:23 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with William M. Colmer

     Colmer’s health

     Colmer’s location

     President’s schedule
          -Lunch with Colmer
          -California trip

     Colmer’s district

     President’s greetings to [Names unintelligible]

     President’s call to F. Edward Hébert
          -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] story on Pat Johnson
                                               24

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)
  • 467-024 3:17 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:17 pm and 3:21 pm.
  • 467-025 3:17 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:17 pm and 3:21 pm.
  • 467-027 3:23 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:23 pm and 3:25 pm.
  • 467-028 3:25 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Samuel S. Stratton met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:25 pm to 3:29 pm.
  • 467-029 3:29 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:29 pm and 3:31 pm.
  • 467-030 3:31 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:31 pm to 3:36 pm.
  • 467-031 3:36 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 3:36 pm.
  • 467-032 3:36 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:36 pm and 3:43 pm.

Conversation 467-026, March 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/467-026 (accessed September 18, 2026).