← 504-002504-004 →

Conversation 504-003

TapeTape 504StartThursday, May 27, 1971 at 10:01 AMEndThursday, May 27, 1971 at 10:03 AMTape start time00:54:16Tape end time00:56:44ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan);  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, and Alexander Butterfield met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate the placement of a gift received from King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The participants discussed whether the item should be displayed in the White House or transferred to the presidential library. They ultimately concluded the session by formalizing plans for the gift's handling and display.

Oval Office furnishingsWhite House giftsKing FaisalPresidential libraryProtocol
AudioNARA Description

On May 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:01 am to 10:03 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 504-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 504-3

Date: May 27, 1971
Time: 10:01 am - 10:03 am
Location: Oval Office

Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     Lyndon B. Johnson Library

     Oval Office furnishings
          -Objet d'art
          -Library
          -Gifts

The President entered at an unknown time after 10:01 am.

     Placement of gift from Malik Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Saud Faisal [King of Saudi Arabia]

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:01 am.

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 16s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

The President, Butterfield, Mrs. Nixon, and the unknown man left at 10:03 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I don't know if you're going to want to display it.
Well, I think you ought to put it here and get this started up.
Yeah, yeah.
I just wanted to receive it.
Right.
As he places by, we'll replace this right now.
That occurred to me, yeah.
Oh, is it?
There's something.
Hi.
No.
Yeah, of course, everything goes in the library.
So there's this courage in you.
You know, you get to be great on the wind, but you need to smell it.
That's the end of that.
I hate the end of life.
Don't you?
How does that happen, Dave?
Well, no, you can borrow.
No, you can borrow, but it really doesn't ever go on, do you?
You can keep after you keep them for a while.
I mean, one or two, but, uh, others in other countries, I mean, I can't believe it.
I know the next big president was so excited because I admired him for renaming him.
What did you say?
I didn't know.
I said, well, if you want to sign it.
Well, it belongs to the government, to any of the prisons.
That's only if it's worthy of it or anywhere.
I don't think you should be afraid of it.
I believe it's something to be accepted, but they don't have it.
The people have to say it.
Right.
I believe it's worth it.
I'm not having them share the decision with you.
In fact, I've heard that, and I'm about to look in front of you and spread everything over immediately.
We're going to flip this, and I'll tell you when we're here.
Okay, sir.
Did any of that just get it?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Okay.
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