Conversation 497-003

TapeTape 497StartTuesday, May 11, 1971 at 11:53 AMEndTuesday, May 11, 1971 at 12:07 PMTape start time00:48:50Tape end time00:56:22ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Barnum, John W.;  Bodman, Richard S.;  Fri, Robert W.;  Kurzman, Stephen;  Letson, William N.;  Sanchez, Phillip V.;  Malek, Frederic V.;  Kinsley, Daniel T.;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office

On May 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John W. Barnum, Richard S. Bodman, Robert W. Fri, Stephen Kurzman, William N. Letson, Phillip V. Sanchez, Frederic V. Malek, Daniel T. Kinsley, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:53 am to 12:07 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 497-003 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 497-3

Date: May 11, 1971
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John W. Barnum, Richard S. Bodman, Robert W. Fri, Stephen Kurzman,
William N. Letson, Phillip V. Sanchez, Frederic V. Malek, and Daniel T. Kingsley; the White
House photographer was present

     Introductions and photographs

     Appointees
         -Kurzman's prior government service
               -Elliot L. Richardson
         -Government service
               -Universities
               -Bureau of Reclamation
               -President's experiences
               -Bureaucracy
               -Goals
               -Sacrifices

     Gifts
             -Cufflinks, golf balls

Barnum, et al., left at 12:07 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

You guys are all going to get good shots.
How does that work?
Because my side of the problem is on a certain test.
Bob Price is the Deputy Administrator of EPA.
All right, all right.
Steve Kernighan is the Assistant Secretary of the Legislative Assembly.
Bill Lessing is the General Counsel at the Department of Commerce.
All right.
Well, it's fine.
We can now... We, uh...
Okay.
But I think you can see from the .
I think speaking for most of them is that most of them are here at considerable financial sacrifice, having had records of real, real accomplishment in case of discouraging the return to government services, looting them in and out and around government personnel.
Uh, all the rest of us, all the rest of them, they're ministry governors.
I have had the pleasure of having him to recruit before the governor.
He was the encouragement of recruiting Barbara and I, like Richard said.
I guess, I guess that's how it is.
I've been working in the Washington for about a year now.
I haven't had any children for three years.
Are you having one?
If I had a business, you know, five years, I wouldn't have one.
Well, let me say that the, uh, one of the things that you're trying to find is the question of your position.
And you've got to keep it all in perspective by taking, uh, some of the other participants.
The reason why that's the worst chaos there is is that you're running a university, you know, there's actually no lawyer, no, uh, you know, I don't know.
And I think that's basically apparent through a lot of intelligent people.
So I'm hoping that we can try to bring a lot of people to work.
We're going to end up here, actually, with a lot of people.
I think we'll be trying to recruit a lot of scouting people.
I think we'll rise when we all get something done, and we'll recognize it.
And I also think, from the perspective of the lead in this town, perhaps,
A little bit better organized to accomplish life.
Talk about the pivotal.
I don't want to lose you.
I want you to be here.
Once you get past one problem, there'll be another.
I have a person who's, I have a person who's a great set of men.
Because only if an individual can, especially if he does a large amount of bureaucracy, the worst manage of all the bureaucracies,
get discouraged, not be concerned about it.
And once you did the research, you look back and say, well, I did something.
There's another way to do any kind of experience.
You have to, a couple years later, say, well, I'll never do it again, but I wouldn't miss it.
Now, we hope that some of you will say, well, maybe I don't need to do it again.
But I know that all of you will say, well, I wouldn't miss it.
As part of the experience, it's going to be very different from what you're expecting.
It's going to be very rewarding.
I just would say, those who leave government there,
and those who are the small men.
And they take very selfish and personal charges, I understand.
Most people are small men, which I didn't run with them, but I should have always sacrificed them.
I really appreciate it.
But the people who come in here with the people who listen and would not be satisfied with failure
I'm going to certainly take this appointment and say, oh, well, that's part of the game.
We've had a good time.
I really appreciate it.
This is a dream change we'll ever have.
For me?
For us?
That we've been in before.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you.
I don't know why you're not here.
Andrew's not going to be majored that way.
He's going to be majored in engineering.
I think you all make the right decision tonight.
This is a very dysfunctional young people.
And you know why.
There's a lot you might be close to you.
You make a success in your business.
You leave a nice estate.
You raise a family.
So what do you have?
Sure.
You've helped your mom and I, and Andrew, and Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.
It's a lot to it, but it all helps.
And we love an individual who has an opportunity to engage in, if you are, and to contribute through services as a person.
Because otherwise, he's missing something.
Okay.
Let's go down to the Capitol.
You're doing pretty well.
Well, maybe your little elbow can fit with your, uh... presidential cotton.
That's what we get in the way of home keys.
And, uh, you should have worn them at that time.
Are you armed?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Any of you golfers?
Golfers, y'all.
Fair enough.
Well, I'll get you up.
Don't use them, though, okay?
I don't know why I put them in there.
These are very nice.
Those are, uh, you may have a prescription seal that's inscribed on a signature.
There you go.
Don't play golf with them.
That gives you the sun to take out after a few weeks, though.