{"conversationCode":"467-035","tapeNumber":467,"conversationNumber":35,"identifier":"37-wht-conversation-467-035","startDateTime":"1971-03-17T20:43:00.000Z","endDateTime":"1971-03-17T20:44:00.000Z","startDate":"17-Mar-1971","startTime":"3:43 PM","endDate":"17-Mar-1971","endTime":"3:44 PM","dateCertainty":"certain","timeCertainty":"certain","participants":"Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ellington, Edna (Thompson);","description":"On March 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Edna (Thompson) Ellington met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:43 pm to 3:44 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 467-035 of the White House Tapes.","locationCode":"OVAL","recordingDevice":"Oval Office","latitudeEstimated":38.8974,"longitudeEstimated":-77.0374,"chronCode":1,"chronRelease":"First Chronological Release","chronReleaseDate":"5-Oct-1999","aogpRelease":null,"aogpSegment":null,"lastModified":"2015-07-27T17:04:10.235Z","findingAid":"Conversation No. 467-35\n\nDate: March 17, 1971\nTime: 3:43 pm - 3:44 pm\nLocation: Oval Office\n\nThe President talked with Edna (Thompson) Ellington\n\n     Edward K. (“Duke”) Ellington’s election to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music\n         -President’s congratulations\n\n     E. K. Ellington’s White House appearance\n\n     President’s congratulations","filename":["467-035.mp3"],"tapeStart":"02:13:56","tapeEnd":"02:15:40","participantsList":["Nixon, Richard M. (President)","Ellington, Edna (Thompson)"],"prevCode":"467-034","nextCode":"467-036","transcript":[{"start":0.03,"end":12.33,"text":"Oh, let's see."},{"start":13.32,"end":15.32,"text":"Who does he have on?"},{"start":15.34,"end":18.05,"text":"See who it is."},{"start":18.07,"end":19.19,"text":"I'm not sure."},{"start":22.52,"end":33.18,"text":"I just called to congratulate the Duke on his being received a membership in the Royal Swedish Academy of Music."},{"start":33.3,"end":35.76,"text":"Isn't that a great thing?"},{"start":35.78,"end":40.31,"text":"I understand it's the first time a popular musician has ever been honored by the Academy."},{"start":40.33,"end":43.13,"text":"There are only 50 of them, so we're glad it's one of ours."},{"start":47.91,"end":63.87,"text":"I will always remember that evening in the White House, and I just want to let you know that when I saw this in my briefing file, I said, well, I've got to give him a call."},{"start":63.89,"end":64.59,"text":"I just want to wish him the best."},{"start":64.61,"end":65.18,"text":"That's all right."},{"start":65.2,"end":66.2,"text":"You get the message."},{"start":66.22,"end":68.25,"text":"You'll get it better than he will."},{"start":68.27,"end":68.77,"text":"Thank you."},{"start":68.79,"end":68.87,"text":"Bye."}],"aiSummary":{"text":"President Nixon contacted Edna Ellington to express his formal congratulations regarding Duke Ellington’s recent election to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. The President noted the historical significance of the honor, acknowledging it as a rare achievement for a popular musician. During the brief exchange, Nixon reflected fondly on the Duke's prior performance at the White House and requested that his sentiments be conveyed to him.","topics":["Duke Ellington","Royal Swedish Academy of Music","White House cultural events","Presidential commendations"],"generatedAt":"2026-04-06T21:21:40.525Z"},"topicSlugs":["duke-ellington","royal-swedish-academy-of-music","white-house-cultural-events","presidential-commendations"],"audioDurationSec":69,"audioFiles":[{"file":"467-035.mp3","bytes":1653236,"durationSec":68.83,"bitrate":192153,"missing":false}],"audioIsShared":false,"audioProbedAt":"2026-09-18T02:19:47.663Z","audio":["https://nixon.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/audio/467-035.mp3"],"url":"https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/467-035","nixonLibraryUrl":"https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/white-house-tapes/467/conversation-467-035","license":"Public domain (U.S. Government work). AI-generated fields (transcript, aiSummary) are provided as-is without warranty."}