Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 509 › Conversation 509-001

Nixon, Leavitt & Staggers on Oval Office and Photo Opportunity

Tuesday, June 1, 1971 · 12:07 PM–12:09 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Leavitt, Mary Kay; Staggers, Harley O.; Nidecker, John E.; White House photographerConversation509-001 on Tape 509 (tape position 00:00:28–00:05:41)StartTuesday, June 1, 1971 at 12:07 PMEndTuesday, June 1, 1971 at 12:09 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 509-001 ↗

President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with Representative Harley O. Staggers, John E. Nidecker, and Mary Kay Leavitt to facilitate a photo opportunity. The discussion primarily served as a ceremonial exchange, involving the presentation of gifts and light conversation regarding Leavitt’s background and schooling. The President shared brief reflections on his own college experiences before concluding the visit.

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Yeah, hi there, how are you?
And this is our team.
I'm a very great commentator.
Well, let's go over here.
We've got a picture of the first one.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
That's over there.
Right there.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
And, uh, thank you for the school.
Well, I'm finished.
Yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah, I'm finished.
What do you say?
Well, you are.
You live on it.
You live on it.
Now, let me thank you for giving me the opportunity
I can't see it.
I can't see it.
I can't see it.
Mr. Hughes, that's the old president.
That's the CEO of Logan, all right?
All right.
All right.
I'm serious.
I don't need you to come to this table.
I'll be right back.
I'll be right back.
I'll be right back.
I'll be right back.
She's a pretty girl, isn't she?
She's kind of like she's been playing some sort of play.
Have you?
Yes.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Oh, well, she's probably better than you are.
So that's all the stuff they have up there.
Really?
It's unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
You know, four years ago, I was in college and so forth.
We all started studying and wondering what we were doing.
It's a very, if you want to read the place, it's a very long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long.

On June 1, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Mary Kay Leavitt, Harley O. Staggers, John E. Nidecker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:07 pm to 12:09 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 509-001 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 509-001

Date: June 1, 1971
Time: 12:07 pm - 12:09 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mary Kay Leavitt, Harley O. Staggers, and John E. Nidecker; the White
House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting

      Introductions

      Arrangements for photograph

      Leavitt’s background
           -School
           -Father

      Presentation of gifts by President

      President’s college experiences

Leavitt, et al. left at 12:09 pm
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  • 256-017 11:30 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 12:06 pm.
  • 256-018 11:30 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 12:06 pm.
  • 256-019 11:30 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 12:06 pm.
  • 256-020 11:30 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 12:06 pm.
  • 509-002 12:10 PM · 35 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:10 pm to 12:50 pm.
  • 256-021 1:20 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:20 pm and 7:35 pm.

Conversation 509-001, June 1, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/509-001 (accessed September 28, 2026).