President Nixon hosted a Federal Civilian Service Awards ceremony in the Oval Office to honor distinguished public servants, including Samuel M. Cohn, U. Alexis Johnson, Edward F. Knipling, Fred Leonard, and George H. Willis. During the event, the President presented medals and recognized the recipients for their significant contributions to fiscal policy, diplomacy, entomology, medical research, and international monetary systems. Following the formal presentations and a group photograph, the President engaged in general conversation with the attendees regarding the Oval Office décor, his daily schedule, and his auxiliary office in the Executive Office Building.
On May 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Samuel M. Cohn, Mrs. Samuel M. Cohn, U. Alexis Johnson, Edward F. Knipling, Mrs. Edward F. Knipling, Fred Leonard, Mrs. Fred Leonard, Mrs. George H. Willis, George H. Willis, Robert E. Hampton, John B. Connally, Clifford M. Hardin, George P. Shultz, and Frederic V. Malek met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:11 pm to 12:23 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 491-030 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 491-30
Date: May 5, 1971
Time: 12:11 pm - 12:23 pm
Location: Oval Office
Stephen B. Bull met with Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Cohn, Mr. and Mrs. U. Alexis Johnson, Dr.
and Mrs. Edward F. Knipling, Dr. and Mrs. Fred Leonard, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Willis,
Robert E. Hampton, John B. Connally, Clifford M. Hardin, George P. Shultz and Frederic V.
Malek.
Federal Civilian Service Awards ceremony
-Arrangements
-Press
-The Cohns and Shultz
-The Kniplings
-Hardin
-The Willises
-Connally
-President's role
-Presentation of awards
-Group photograph
[General conversation]
The President entered and the press entered and left at an unknown time after 12:11 pm.
Presentation of awards
-[Camera noise]
-Cohn
-Contributions
-Fiscal policy management
-Federal budget process
-Johnson
-Contributions
-Diplomacy
-Vietnam
-Okinawa
-Knipling
-Contributions
-Entomology
-Leonard
-Contributions
-Medical research
-Willis
-Contributions
-Financial statesmanship
-International monetary systems
Group photograph
Presentation of gifts
-Presidential seal
Oval Office
-Decoration
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Carpet
-Ceiling
-State gifts
-Korea
-President's schedule
-Executive Office Building [EOB] office
-Seals
Weather
-Tulips
Federal service
-Years
[General conversation]
The Cohns et al., left at 12:23 pm.
Press photograph
-Robert D. (“Bob”) Lee
Bull left at 12:23 pm.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.