Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508 › Conversation 508-008

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Civil War and West Point

Wednesday, June 2, 1971 · 8:55 AM–9:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation508-008 on Tape 508 (tape position 00:15:02–00:16:39)StartWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 8:55 AMEndWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 9:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 508-008 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417177641 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum to General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. regarding the creation of a memorial at West Point honoring both Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. He suggests that commemorating prominent generals from both sides of the Civil War could help heal lingering regional divisions and address sensitivities in the American South. The President directs Haig to explore the feasibility of such a tribute to foster national reconciliation.

  • Civil War
  • West Point
  • Robert E. Lee
  • Ulysses S. Grant
  • National reconciliation
  • Memorials

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 508-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 508-008

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

The President dictated a memorandum to General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

     Memorial to Confederate dead in the US Civil War
        -Memorial to General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant at West Point
        -Implications for the South

Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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that as far as the memorial to the dead who fought on the southern side in the Civil War is concerned, and a good way to handle it would be to welcome the Lee and Grant.
The West might vote for the outstanding generals on their side during the war.
tradition of, uh, it may not be possible to get any kind of a memorial this type at West Mike, but I have a strong feeling that, uh, something eager to lead graduates who haven't set aside could have a romantic effect and that
The wounds in the South still exist 100 years after the wars.

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.
  • 508-005 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.
  • 508-006 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.
  • 508-009 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 508-008, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417177641). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/508-008 (accessed November 11, 2026).