← 506-001506-003 →

Conversation 506-002

TapeTape 506StartFriday, May 28, 1971 at 12:09 PMEndFriday, May 28, 1971 at 12:13 PMTape start time00:08:52Tape end time00:15:08ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Suffridge, James;  Housewright, James;  McGuire, William;  Colson, Charles W.;  White House photographer;  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with leaders of the Retail Clerks International Association, including James Suffridge, James Housewright, and William McGuire, alongside aide Charles W. Colson for a brief, ceremonial visit. The participants engaged in light conversation, exchanged gifts including golf balls and cuff links, and discussed a prayer shared by a local pastor. The interaction concluded with a photo opportunity and a brief discussion regarding a gift received from Saudi Arabia intended for the presidential library.

Retail Clerks International AssociationGift exchangePresidential librarySaudi ArabiaPublic relations
AudioNARA Description

On May 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, James Suffridge, James Housewright, William McGuire, Charles W. Colson, White House photographer, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:09 pm to 12:13 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 506-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 506-2

Date: May 28, 1971
Time: 12:09 pm - 12:13 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with James Suffridge, James Housewright, William McGuire, and Charles W.
Colson; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Greetings

     Gold

     Retail Clerks International Association
           -Membership

     Retail sales conference
           -Unknown person

     Church
          -Prayer
          -Location

     Presentation of gifts by the President
          -Cuff links
          -Golf balls
          -Donald McI. Kendall
                -Pepsi Cola
                -Wilson Sporting Goods

      Invitation
            -Date

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:09 pm.

      Picture

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:13 pm.

      Gifts
              -Preacher
                   -Note by the President
                   -Duke University
                   -Ethnicity

      Saudi Arabia
           -Gift
                 -Presidential library

      Oval Office
           -Decor

Suffridge, et. al., left at 12:13 pm.
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.

Thank you.
We're sorry we're late.
There's a white machine.
We know you have things on the area.
There's a little, it's a little blue.
Don't worry.
We won't even use it in order to do something about the gold problem.
It blows up.
This is part of the people.
I'm very proud of that.
My old one.
I was going to ring the list over.
Did we tell you the list?
I think we did.
So then they make sure Jason and I sit up.
the uh... the uh... the uh... the uh... the uh... the uh... the uh... the uh... the uh...
Well, we're going to be trapped in here, you know, all this money, and we're going to be having a lot of fun, and I'll say to you that they're already hurting.
I was going to take advantage of you when I came to church here two weeks ago, and the excitement I forgot.
This is a prayer that was given by our preacher the week before, and says he may be the only one that's praying this part, but for you, I want you to read this.
Somebody might want to invite him over.
I will.
This is your pastor.
Yeah, the church in Arlington.
I was listening to that.
Do you think he'd be a good impression?
Yes.
Read that.
This is good.
They impressed me.
They recorded everything.
I don't know what they're going to do to you.
No, seriously.
No, no.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
They're the Seagulls.
Yes, the Seagulls.
No name on it, so there's no way you're aware of it.
There you go.
Here it is.
I didn't know.
Here, I'll call it.
These are very nice.
They're made by the...
by Don Kendall, who has PepsiCo, and David Wilson now.
Yeah, so he gave these to me.
I know you can.
I know you have.
You have played this before.
Now, uh, now maybe this deal is August the 23rd.
Oh, his party?
Yeah.
Well, you're going to be able to put that down into the, uh, your, uh, your brain, and, uh, you went through those things, and then, uh, uh, you know, see if there's anyone, uh, thinking, oh, oh, this is all, like, what's going on.
Well, there are these, right?
Yeah.
Somebody's here to control this.
What do you think he'd like?
for that prayer.
I gave the text to John.
I told him, he says, well, I'll write it.
I'll write it.
I'll write it up here.
I'll write it up here.
I'll write it up here.
I'll write it up here.
I'll write it up here.
Yeah, I do.
I do.
And he got a certain song.
I heard his speaker sing for a piece of little dark Armenian.
Armenian.
He was born in this country, but I think his father came in.
And his father was the presbyterian Christian for 50 years.
I want to show you this one.
This is the...
This is the gift from Saudi Arabia.
I'm sure they had some ideas.
I'm afraid it would get me into internal American politics if he were to say that for your library.
Oh, he'll go to the library.
Well, I won't talk to that either.
I've got a thing I can get out of this.
There you go.
That's very good.
I wish you the best.
Thank you.
You see it's got the blue, my wife, the blue record with the gold star.
Good.
All right.
Great.
← 506-001506-003 →