Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508 › Conversation 508-005

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Drug abuse and Prescription drugs

Wednesday, June 2, 1971 · 8:55 AM–9:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation508-005 on Tape 508 (tape position 00:09:17–00:10:49)StartWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 8:55 AMEndWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 9:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 508-005 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417177635 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum to John Ehrlichman instructing him to investigate the role of physician over-prescription in the nation's drug abuse crisis. The President directs Ehrlichman to consult with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of Health regarding the misuse of amphetamines and other controlled substances. The primary objective is to obtain a formal study and actionable recommendations on how to restrict the ability of medical professionals to facilitate drug abuse through excessive prescribing practices.

  • Drug abuse
  • Prescription drugs
  • John Ehrlichman
  • Health policy
  • Amphetamines
  • Physician oversight

Audio

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NARA Description

On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 508-005

Date: June 2, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:55 am and 9:20 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to John D. Ehrlichman

     Drug abuse studies
          -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
          -Secretary of Health from Arizona
               -Physicians
                     -Over-prescription of drugs
               -Study
               -Instructions for Krogh
                     -HEW

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 78% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I would like for you to check with the ATW and true them directly with the for help who is from Arizona on what the situation is with
for amphetamines and other drugs.
Actually, a substantial part of the drug problem can be traced directly to doctors who overprescribe drugs for patients.
I would like a study made as to how we might restrict these activities.
And get me a recommendation on it.

Also recorded on June 2, 1971

  • 508-001 8:55 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-002 8:55 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-003 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-004 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-006 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-007 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-008 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-009 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.

All 27 conversations from June 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 508-005, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417177635). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/508-005 (accessed November 11, 2026).