Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508 › Conversation 508-009

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Personnel management

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

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation508-009 on Tape 508 (tape position 00:16:39–00:18:40)StartWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 8:55 AMEndWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 9:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 508-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon discusses a personnel matter regarding a formal letter of recommendation for an individual, identified as 'Mel.' He expresses high praise for the individual's performance over the previous two and a half years and explicitly requests a positive addition to their official employment record. The discussion reflects the President's personal interest in ensuring this associate receives formal recognition and long-term professional credit.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Dear Mel, I am enclosing a formal letter.
Do you have someone to... do a job?
And I want something good for their record.
During the past two and a half years, I'm honestly impressed.
I'm very proud.
And I'll follow in the next eight years.

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 508-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 508-009

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

The President dictated a note to Melvin R. Laird

     Attachment to formal letter
          -Commendation for unknown person

The President dictated a letter to Laird

     US military
         -Ceremonial duties
                 -President’s view

[This conversation continues as Conversation No. 508-11]

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

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.
  • 508-008 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.

All 42 conversations from June 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 508-009, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/508-009 (accessed September 26, 2026).