{"conversationCode":"488-018","tapeNumber":488,"conversationNumber":18,"identifier":"37-wht-conversation-488-018","startDateTime":"1971-04-27T16:43:00.000Z","endDateTime":"1971-04-27T16:45:00.000Z","startDate":"27-Apr-1971","startTime":"12:43 PM","endDate":"27-Apr-1971","endTime":"12:45 PM","dateCertainty":"certain","timeCertainty":"certain","participants":"Nixon, Richard M. (President); Perkins, William; Perkins, Gary; Davies, John S.; White House photographer;","description":"On April 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, William Perkins, Gary Perkins, John S. Davies, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:43 pm to 12:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 488-018 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. 488-18\n\nDate: April 27, 1971\nTime: 12:43 pm - 12:45 pm\nLocation: Oval Office\n\nThe President met with William Perkins, Gary Perkins, and John S. Davies; the White House\nphotographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.\n\n     Introductions\n           -Edward C. Nixon\n\n     Photo\n     President's schedule\n          -Unknown man\n          -Reception of foreign visitors\n                -Ceremony\n          -Meeting with ambassadors\n\n     Seal\n\n     Flags\n             -Decorations\n\n     Presentation of gifts\n          -Cuff links\n          -Golf balls\n\n     Farewells\n\nW. Perkins, G. Perkins, and Davies left at 12:45 pm.","filename":["488-018.mp3"],"tapeStart":"02:57:06","tapeEnd":"03:00:13","participantsList":["Nixon, Richard M. (President)","Perkins, William","Perkins, Gary","Davies, John S.","White House photographer"],"prevCode":"488-017","nextCode":"488-019","transcript":[{"start":52.16,"end":67.3,"text":"Yes."},{"start":67.32,"end":67.4,"text":"Yes."},{"start":67.42,"end":67.5,"text":"Yes."},{"start":67.52,"end":67.74,"text":"Yes."},{"start":75.22,"end":75.3,"text":"Yes."},{"start":84.46,"end":99.98,"text":"Oh, it's the seal on the ceiling."},{"start":100,"end":100.5,"text":"And the floor, excuse me."},{"start":100.52,"end":102.2,"text":"Even though the rug's changed, this is the most important thing in history."},{"start":102.22,"end":103.18,"text":"It is."},{"start":103.2,"end":106.31,"text":"This gives much more color to it."},{"start":106.33,"end":106.85,"text":"Well, it's very warm, too."},{"start":106.87,"end":107.21,"text":"It's a warm pad."},{"start":107.23,"end":110.63,"text":"And particularly with your backdrops here, it's very quiet."},{"start":110.65,"end":111.23,"text":"It's nice for the day-to-day."},{"start":111.25,"end":112.01,"text":"The entire white generation is moving."},{"start":112.03,"end":112.39,"text":"You eat the style."},{"start":112.41,"end":112.89,"text":"It's changing this time."},{"start":113.33,"end":134.57,"text":"It looks good for a couple of days."},{"start":134.59,"end":134.95,"text":"This is beautiful."},{"start":134.97,"end":135.65,"text":"We don't want to take down a beer."},{"start":135.67,"end":136.31,"text":"I want to have a chance tonight."},{"start":136.33,"end":137.41,"text":"I want to give you a little memento."},{"start":137.43,"end":138.17,"text":"These are the, you've seen that seal."},{"start":138.19,"end":138.63,"text":"Here it is in complex."},{"start":138.65,"end":139.05,"text":"Thank you very much."},{"start":139.07,"end":139.57,"text":"I appreciate the mention."},{"start":139.59,"end":139.99,"text":"Thank you very much."},{"start":140.01,"end":140.47,"text":"Are you a golfer?"},{"start":140.49,"end":140.67,"text":"Yes, sir."},{"start":140.69,"end":140.87,"text":"Yes, sir."},{"start":140.89,"end":141.47,"text":"I'll give you something else."},{"start":141.91,"end":142.16,"text":"Listen here."},{"start":159.48,"end":162.29,"text":"Come on, come on."}],"aiSummary":{"text":"President Nixon hosted William Perkins, Gary Perkins, and John S. Davies in the Oval Office for a brief, informal meeting. The discussion focused on the room's decor, specifically the presidential seal, and Nixon’s daily schedule regarding diplomatic ceremonies and the reception of foreign ambassadors. The meeting concluded with Nixon presenting his guests with commemorative gifts, including cuff links and golf balls.","topics":["Oval Office","Presidential Protocol","Ceremonial Gifts","Diplomatic Reception","White House Decor"],"generatedAt":"2026-04-06T21:56:06.335Z"},"topicSlugs":["oval-office","presidential-protocol","ceremonial-gifts","diplomatic-reception","white-house-decor"],"audioDurationSec":175,"audioFiles":[{"file":"488-018.mp3","bytes":6997473,"durationSec":174.8,"bitrate":320252,"missing":false}],"audioIsShared":false,"audioProbedAt":"2026-09-18T02:19:48.989Z","transcriptGapSeconds":52,"transcriptGapShare":0.3,"transcriptQuality":"incomplete","audio":["https://nixon.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/audio/488-018.mp3"],"url":"https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/488-018","nixonLibraryUrl":"https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/white-house-tapes/488/conversation-488-018","license":"Public domain (U.S. Government work). AI-generated fields (transcript, aiSummary) are provided as-is without warranty."}