Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 488 › Conversation 488-012

Fletcher, Fulton & Low on NASA and Space policy

Tuesday, April 27, 1971 · 10:05 AM–10:16 AM ET · Oval Office · 11 min

ParticipantsHaldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Fletcher, James C.; Belson, James A.; Fletcher, Fay; Fletcher, Ginger; Fletcher, Mary Susan; Fletcher, James S.; Bennett, Wallace F.; Anderson, Clinton P.; Curtis, Carl T.; Miller, George P.; Teague, Olin E.; Fulton, James J.; Low, George M.; McCurdy, Richard C.; Bentlye, Helen D.; David, Edward E., Jr. (Dr.); Whitehead, Clay T. ("Tom"); Kriegsman, William E.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Paine, Thomas O.Conversation488-012 on Tape 488 (tape position 00:48:23–00:59:40)StartTuesday, April 27, 1971 at 10:05 AMEndTuesday, April 27, 1971 at 10:16 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 488-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon hosted a ceremonial event in the Oval Office for the swearing-in of James C. Fletcher as the new Administrator of NASA, attended by Fletcher's family, members of Congress, and administration officials. Following the photo session and official proceedings, the President discussed the importance of space exploration and future policy ideas with attendees. The meeting concluded with a private discussion regarding Representative James G. Fulton’s congressional career and potential future scheduling.

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 7% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
We have a threat.
How far are they coming?
I don't know.
I'm too late.
We'll be right back after the break.
We want to get all of you prepared here for this ceremony.
In fact, sometime I've been asked to come and see if he doesn't have anything to say.
But we'll see if I can work it out.
A future space.
Yes, a future space.
Ideas.
Everything from security to growing finances.
I think you'll enjoy it.
I've given a lot of thought on the ranking number there now.
I know you are.
I know.
And I'm very proud and inspired to realize that all of you are special.
He had this terrible diabetes, and he got gangrene of both feet.
He was told to stay off of them.

NARA Description

On April 27, 1971, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, James C. Fletcher, James A. Belson, Fay Fletcher, Ginger Fletcher, Mary Susan Fletcher, James S. Fletcher, Wallace F. Bennett, Clinton P. Anderson, Carl T. Curtis, George P. Miller, Olin E. Teague, James J. Fulton, George M. Low, Richard C. McCurdy, Helen D. Bentlye, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Clay T. ("Tom") Whitehead, William E. Kriegsman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Thomas O. Paine met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:05 am and 10:16 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 488-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 488-12

Date: April 27, 1971
Time: Unknown before 10:05 am - 10:16 am
Location: Oval Office

H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman met with James C. Fletcher, Judge James A. Belson, Fay Fletcher,
Ginger Fletcher, Mary Susan Fletcher, James Stephen Fletcher, Missy Fletcher, Wallace F.
Bennett, Clinton P. Anderson, Carl T. Curtis, George P. Miller, Olin E. Teague, James G. Fulton,
George M. Low, Richard C. McCurdy, H. Dale Grubb, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Clay T.
Whitehead, William E. Kriegsman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Thomas O. Paine; the White House
photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the meeting.

     [General conversation]

The President entered at 10:05 am.

     Introductions

     [General conversation]

     [Camera noise]

     Oath of office

     [Applause]

     Photo session
          -Fletcher's family
                -Children

     [Camera noise]

     National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]
          -Importance

     [Camera noise]

     Space

     [General conversation]
          -Cabinet meeting

      Presentation of gifts
           -Presidential cuff links
           -Presidential bows
                 -Seal
           -Judge Belson

     Farewells

     [Applause]

     [General conversation]

Belson, et al., left at an unknown time before 10:16 am.

     President's schedule
           -Possible meeting with Fulton
                 -Dwight D. Eisenhower
                 -Scheduling
                 -Space

     Space
          -Future
          -Ideas
          -Fulton's activities
                -Pennsylvania delegation

     Fulton
          -Congressional career

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/21/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[488-012-w001]
[Duration: 3s]

     James G. Fulton
          -Chairman Nixon for Pennsylvania

**********************************************************************

     James G. Fulton
          -Congressional career
     -Bob [Surname unknown]
          -Health

     President's schedule
           -Possible meeting with Fulton

Fulton left at 10:16 am.

Also recorded on April 27, 1971

  • 488-010 7:55 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 7:55 am to 8:04 am.
  • 055-003 8:04 AM · 1 hr 41 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and members of the Cabinet, including John N. Irwin, II, John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Winton M. ("Red") Blount, Jr., Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, James T. Lynn, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P. Shultz, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander P. Butterfield, Robert J. Brown, Robert J. Dole, Arthur J. Sohmer, Donald E. Johnson, and Malcolm R. Lovell, Jr., met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 8:04 am to 9:43 am.
  • 488-011 9:55 AM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 10:05 am.
  • 488-013 10:16 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
  • 488-014 10:16 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
  • 488-015 10:19 AM · 1 hr 22 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Manolo Sanchez, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull, unknown person(s), Henry Ford, II, and Lide A. Iacocca met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:19 am to 11:43 am.
  • 488-016 11:43 AM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Winton M. ("Red") Blount, Jr., George P. Shultz, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:43 am to 12:16 pm.
  • 488-017 12:16 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 12:40 pm.

All 46 conversations from April 27, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 488-012, April 27, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/488-012 (accessed October 24, 2026).