Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 488 › Conversation 488-005

Nixon & Haldeman on Washington National Airport and Dwight D. Eisenhower

Monday, April 26, 1971 · 8:22 AM–9:00 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation488-005 on Tape 488 (tape position 00:06:53–00:08:15)StartMonday, April 26, 1971 at 8:22 AMEndMonday, April 26, 1971 at 9:00 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 488-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a series of administrative tasks to H.R. Haldeman, focusing on infrastructure improvements to Washington, D.C. area buildings and potential renaming of the National Airport to honor Dwight D. Eisenhower. The President explores ways to rename the airport without requiring formal legislation, though he remains open to lobbying Congress if necessary. Additionally, Nixon discusses arrangements for future White House worship services, specifically requesting outreach to Billy Graham regarding the inclusion of diverse, conservative-leaning ministers.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 62% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

What progress has been made on the end of the Pan American building, the Red Cross building, the VAR building?
That means the Congressman from Iowa has introduced a bill to change the name of the National Airport to Eisenhower Airport.
I think this is an excellent idea to see whether we can do it without any legislation.
If not, see, we can give a little push for legislation.
This memorandum should go to... Graham suggested a minister by the name of McNutter, M-C-R-U-N-U-T-T-E-R. What else are the services?
Would you check with him to see if he'll get them to happen?
That's certainly one of our future services.
Also, Grant.
Yes, sir.
Negro, Master.
Negro, I'm sure he's one of the conservative masters.
I'm one of the left-handers.

NARA Description

On April 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 am and 9:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 488-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 488-5

Date: April 26, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:22 am and 9:00 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum for H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman at an unknown time between
8:22 and 9:00 am.

     Buildings
          -Lighting
          -Pan American building
          -Red Cross
          -Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR]

     Wiley Mayne
          -National Airport
               -Change of name
                     -Eisenhower Airport
                     -President's position
                     -Legislation

     Distribution of memorandum
           -[Unintelligible]

     William F. (“Billy”) Graham
          -Ministers
                -McNutter [Forename unknown]
                -White House worship service
                -Black
                -Conservatives

Also recorded on April 26, 1971

  • 488-001 8:22 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 am and 9:00 am.
  • 488-002 8:22 AM · 28 sec — Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 am and 9:00 am.
  • 488-003 8:22 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 am and 9:00 am.
  • 488-004 8:22 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 am and 9:00 am.
  • 488-006 9:00 AM · 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:00 am to 10:04 am.
  • 489-001 10:24 AM · 8 sec — Manolo Sanchez and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:24 am and 11:05 am.
  • 489-002 10:24 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:24 am and 11:05 am.
  • 489-003 11:05 AM · 42 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:05 am and 11:52 am.

All 36 conversations from April 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 488-005, April 26, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/488-005 (accessed October 11, 2026).