Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 518 › Conversation 518-009

Nixon, Atkins & Sanchez on Wedding photography and White House staff

Sunday, June 13, 1971 · 12:01 AM–11:59 PM ET · Oval Office · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie"); Sanchez, ManoloConversation518-009 on Tape 518 (tape position 02:39:11–02:46:14)StartSunday, June 13, 1971 at 12:01 AMEndSunday, June 13, 1971 at 11:59 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 518-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with White House photographer Oliver F. Atkins and personal valet Manolo Sanchez to review and discuss personal photographs from the recent wedding of his daughter, Tricia Nixon. The participants examined various candid and official images, sharing positive feedback on the visual documentation and the favorable media coverage surrounding the ceremony. Nixon directed that specific photographs be delivered to his daughter, reflecting the informal and personal nature of the gathering.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 4 minutes of this recording (about 74% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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And that's when I first started coming down here.
It's a nice chat, sort of a green room in there.
Yeah, I agree.
That was my story.
This is the overall view of the columnary room.
This is the departure.
Here they are at the end of the aisle.
Here they are just before the wedding, in the blue room.
And here's this young mother saying, we'll be speeding up on here.
That's the way to get in there.
That'll get them in the office.
That's my presidential daughter.
This is the cox girl.
This cute little girl.
Yeah.
This is another shell in my position.
And this is a beautiful shell.
It really doesn't make sense.
It's weird.
It's a wonderful little thing.
There's a lovely shell.
This is the official wedding picture with the house on it.
They all saw it.
Everybody was so impressed.
It's just a beautiful shell.
Without that usual washing around for an hour.
Yeah, that's right.
This is a great shop here.
We've added their taxes.
The rest are made of honor.
It's the way the private room looks every single time.
Yeah, that's right.
There you are with the bride.
And here we have the bride.
And there's the president.
She was just so excited.
It was wonderful.
Yeah.
Here's the tour of the bouquet.
Listen, there's your hat.
Yeah.
That was everything.
The way Trisha looked at you when she was leaving, you know, she was leaving her home, you know, it was really something.
That's what I'm trying to say.
Let's be more or less cool about it there.
And then you're looking at Trisha there when she was last there once.
Yeah, this is smashing, that's good.
Yeah, I think it's very good.
That's really a great job on there.
Well, Mr. Jackson said I was going to give this to her next time.
Yeah, that would be great.
You better see that she gets this one.
Yes, sir, she'll get it this time.
So that she can have something to eat.
Yes, sir.
Is she dead?
Huh?
Is she at the amount?
Oh, yes, she's at the amount.
Well, when you put her on the go...
That was a really great job.
We got good press play, too.
The press really treated us very nicely.
They, uh, what I told you.
My wife saw it on TV.
What?
My wife saw it on TV.
Yeah?
She said it was nothing but a big fuss.
You see, you can't be unkind to a couple getting married.
That's the problem.
I guess they have a problem.
Manila, all I have is a shot.
I want you to see.
I've got a beautiful picture of the wedding.
I want you to check over there to see...
What a situation, huh?
He up yet, you know?
Uh, I know a man, but he was gone.
I go to Cortina to find him.
Oh, yeah, fine.
Try to get out of here, Captain.
No, I'm not going to get out of here.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.

NARA Description

On June 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 518-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 518-9

Date: June 13, 1971
Time: Unknown between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/06/2020.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[518-009-w001]
[Duration: 4m 5s]

     -Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox wedding
           -Review of photographs
                -The President and Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
                -Distribution
                -Stephen B. Bull’s office
                -Hidden camera in window
                -Departure
                -Photographs of unknown members of the bridal party [?]
                -Photograph of the President and Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
                -Official wedding photograph
                -Other photographs
                      -Howard E. Cox, Jr. and Anne C. B. (Finch) Cox
                      -Best Man and Maid of Honor
                      -Receiving line
                      -Dancing
                      -The President and Tricia Nixon Cox
                      -Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox
                      -Dancing
                            -The President and Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
                      -Bouquet throwing
                      -Departure
                -Tricia Nixon Cox
                -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s review of photographs
                      -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule

******************************************************************************

     Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox wedding
           -Press coverage
                 -Television
                 -Mrs. Atkins’ view

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 12:01 am

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/06/2020.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[518-009-w002]
[Duration: 31s]

     Wedding photographs
         -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
              -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s review of photographs
         -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule
              -Fina Sanchez

******************************************************************************

The President, Atkins, and Sanchez left at unknown time before 11:59 pm

Also recorded on June 13, 1971

  • 256-031 8:10 AM · 41 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo, Manolo Sanchez, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, Carol (Crothers) Finch, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 12:42 pm.
  • 005-032 8:35 AM · 58 sec — the White House operator, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, President Richard M. Nixon, and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at 8:35 am.
  • 005-033 8:36 AM · 32 sec — Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Ann Davis talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 9:56 am.
  • 005-034 8:36 AM · 1 min — Julie Nixon Eisenhower, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 9:56 am.
  • 005-035 8:36 AM · 27 sec — unknown person(s) and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 9:56 am.
  • 005-036 8:36 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 9:56 am.
  • 005-037 9:56 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:56 am to 10:03 am.
  • 005-038 10:04 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:04 am.

All 38 conversations from June 13, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 518-009, June 13, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/518-009 (accessed October 23, 2026).