Conversation 506-011

TapeTape 506StartFriday, May 28, 1971 at 5:05 PMEndFriday, May 28, 1971 at 5:08 PMTape start time01:06:03Tape end time01:10:00ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the administrative handling of a forthcoming presidential speech and the vetting of potential political appointees. They reviewed the distribution of speech drafts to key staff members, including Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig, while incorporating revisions based on Kissinger's recommendations. Additionally, Nixon expressed strong reservations about appointing individuals like Charles Schultze or John Gardner due to their perceived ties to Democratic candidates, ultimately deciding against their inclusion.

Presidential speechPersonnel appointmentsVettingJohn EhrlichmanDemocratic candidates

Audio

NARA Description

On May 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:05 pm to 5:08 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 506-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 506-11

Date: May 28, 1971
Time: 5:04 pm - 5:08 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John D. Ehrlichman and Alexander P. Butterfield; the recording begins
while the conversation is in progress when.

     Peter G. Peterson

     Henry A. Kissinger
          -Meeting with the President
               -Speech

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 5:07 pm.

     Possible appointments
          -John W. Gardner [?]
          -Charles L. Schultze
          -Gardner

                 -Democrat candidates
                 -Schultze

The President left at an unknown time before 5:07 pm

Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 5:04 pm.

     Copies of speech
          -The President
          -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
          -Kissinger
          -Time
          -Kissinger
          -The President
                -Delivery of copies
                     -Ehrlichman

Ehrlichman left at 5:07 pm.

The President entered at an unknown time after 5:07 pm.

     Speech
          -Changes
               -Kissinger's recommendations

Butterfield and Bull left at 5:08 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.

I can't think of any discussing on it.

I think that the, uh, I think that Peter's just done a long, very, you know, you know, talk experiment, as opposed to, you know, this is your country, you can't do this.

Well, then bring a copy of the speech tomorrow, and, uh, get Vincent exactly going to be accepted, and what we have to do is to get it.

And you're going to deal with coding that flow.

That's right.

That's what we're going to do.

I'm not going to be talking about that.

I have five.

I have not, too.

Maybe you want to go over his name.

Well, I did.

And I tried to tally along with her.

And the only thing I don't know about Charlie Schultz is I think he would...

I don't think you can have people that are going to go right in with Democratic candidates.

And that's the problem with Garner's initials.

I don't know if you could check that out.

All right.

But I'll see if I can get it off of those.

I think that's the real problem.

I'll tell you what, there are many other candidates.

We can't do it.

All right?

We can't do it with candidates.

But there must be some other people.

That said, it may be new things out there.

I'm not sure.

But I don't think so.

All right.

You do have things coming?

Can I tell them you're bringing it in?

All right, okay.

I mean, that's all.

No, no, no.

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