Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 519 › Conversation 519-017
Nixon, Woods & Shultz on Life magazine and White House press relations
Monday, June 14, 1971 · 6:46 PM–7:07 PM ET · Oval Office · 15 min
AI Summary
In this meeting, President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods discuss personal and administrative matters, including the recent wedding of Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox. The President and Woods exchange views on positive media coverage, specifically a recent Life magazine cover, while criticizing negative press commentary from reporters. Additionally, the President discusses upcoming scheduling logistics and expresses a desire to minimize future social contact with individuals he views as difficult, such as the Drown family.
- Tricia Nixon Cox wedding
- Life magazine
- White House press relations
- Presidential schedule
- Personal correspondence
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 4 minutes of this recording (about 25% 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.
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well i uh
I mean, I'm a man, but if the prospects are that dire, then I think we'd better all turn our seats around and heal.
But, hey, you feel that they're overstated today?
Of course.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He takes, of course, all of the deflator and shows what's actually going on.
That's the end.
That's the other side.
But let's see what settlements we're really talking about.
I think when you get it down to that, then you don't just talk in general terms.
And if you talk to the MGR, I think what we're talking about is sort of really what you want to know to dissect the problem if you get to it to an extent.
The other thing is that what about, I guess, the point about the businessman, that he has such a, sort of basically a lack of confidence
That's right.
Do you think it is?
My mother, my mother-in-law.
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
I'm trying to get you over here now.
Not necessarily.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, what I was saying, a new economic policy.
My point is, I don't think that's a new economic policy.
I'd rather be sure that it is.
I didn't know when.
Is it?
Is it new?
Well, we'll have to take a hard look.
Okay.
Well, anyway, I was, I'm just being so important to her to be able to make it like she went to college.
All right?
All right, all right.
You have the, uh, the, this week's light?
Yes, sir.
Anyway, I just brought that here.
And you're, uh... Can I have it?
Oh, yeah.
She's got quite a few calls, so...
I saw a cover.
Did you see it?
Yes.
I saw it 15 minutes ago.
What do you think?
It's a beautiful cover.
It's a beautiful gown.
You know, she really was beautiful.
Gorgeous.
Her hair was pretty.
She's a beautiful girl.
Actually more beautiful than her pictures.
She is a person.
And what I meant is television.
The other pictures are all black and white.
This is a short letter that I...
but I have my, he has a dinner over here.
We should take that magazine over and give it to us.
What's that?
Can I do breakfast over here?
I was going to have, obviously, over at the field, you know, you were spreading over.
What time is it?
About 20 minutes.
About 20 minutes.
I didn't know.
I don't know what you're saying.
Take your time.
Everyone said it was just beautiful.
I personally do not like Mrs. Baldwin's comments, and I'm so sick of her anyway.
Yes, she said that...
Yes.
And I think you all look so nice to her.
She had to get in the paper.
I think it was mean of her.
I really do.
Well, I don't think you should, but I don't think she had to stop.
That was not a Hollywood production.
It was a beautiful, beautiful work.
That was not a study of the general impression.
No, it wasn't.
And she should never have said that, as good as you've been never.
I mean, look, after the way she cuddled up to the Kennedys and the Melons, you could have cut her cold when it came down.
That you've been so nice to her.
She could have kept still one day, I think.
You'll leave her alone for a while.
I think so.
That's what I'd like to be doing.
There are other people...
It was dignified.
It was a gracious family.
And I loved the star tip on their one society page where they said, gently, a father lets his little girl go, or something like that.
It was just beautifully done.
I hope that Helene doesn't nag and say that Cox is dreaming, because there's no point in going over that either, you know?
No, I won't let that do it.
When I write, I just, you know, let's forget it.
Oh, you do?
You don't have to associate with them then, let's just... Cox is in my vision now.
A long time ago.
And now he's gotten even worse.
He never was a scintillating man, but he's gotten more boring because he... Rosie just isn't... Jack is just...
He's just basically a...
He doesn't know it.
He's a big, stupid old... That's all.
He's gotten worse because he's...
She pushes and he goes along, and then he pushes through them.
The way I've got to handle this is to put a flag to Pompok and just cold turkey.
Yes.
I think so.
Because you're right, from now until a year from November, you can't waste any time worrying about them.
And if that wants their two weeks off, it's better to stay there.
I count them there.
Well, that's not a real big technical question.
You can ask other people, and they'll say yes.
Oh, of course.
And come for dinner.
And she can have that any time.
I'm not lying there.
I get it, but I guess the rest I'm not a huge fan of it.
Like, to me, I just can't really face up to the idea of walking over there and having dinner with her with the light there.
I just can't face up to it.
You know, there's just a goddamn medium in her face, Charles.
I know.
And she talks to me.
She talks to me.
She looks better at the wedding than she's looked for several years, though.
For the last few years, she's really been...
Not good.
Well, that last time she was back here, even for the engagement party, I thought she looked, uh... All right, what about here?
Didn't even look pretty, and I did wait, but she didn't look as bad as you do.
She was not any better behaving, but she looked a little better.
Reaction to going out to a party with her, right?
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Tired to be with...
And even if you weren't doing that thing, if you didn't have the job that you have, which is the biggest job in the world, even, like, it's because everything is difficult.
It's praying.
It's never easy.
This is going to happen.
She's in good shape.
Yes.
I was glad to hear that.
You told her that I was standing there.
I heard it.
I'm going to have to rush.
I'm probably going to need to get an AED.
Don't go away.
You can just go to bed.
That's the point.
That's what we'll do.
The emotion of that, you know, you need the legs to sleep so you can get it at all.
You know, a very big thing like the wedding.
Yes.
Well... Well, this is bad, but I accept it, all right?
Well, if you're crazy, you don't realize it.
Oh, yes, sir.
I don't want to be exposed to it right now.
Oh, in California, I'd stick out.
Well, I think what he should say is this.
NARA Description
On June 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, George P. Shultz, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:46 pm to 7:07 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 519-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 519-17
Date: June 14, 1971
Time: 6:46 pm - 7:07 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Rose Mary Woods
******************************************************************************
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/20/2020.
16s segment cleared for release. 36s remain closed as 519-017-w001.]
[Personal Returnable]
[519-017-w001]
[Duration: 36s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
[Personal Returnable]
[519-017-w001]
[Duration: 16s]
Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox wedding
-Public reaction
-Television
-Eugenia (McMahon) Meany
******************************************************************************
[The President talked with George P. Shultz between 6:46 pm and 6:57 pm]
[Conversation No. 519-17A]
[See Conversation No. 5-67]
[End of telephone conversation]
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/08/2020.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[519-017-w002]
[Duration: 1m 44s]
Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Social calendar
Stephen B. Bull entered at unknown time after 6:46 pm
Current Life magazine
Stephen B. Bull left at an unknown time before 7:07 pm
Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox wedding
-Life magazine cover
-Telephone calls to Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Rose Mary Woods’ view
-Tricia Nixon Cox’s gown and general appearance
-Appearance on TV and in photos
-Rose Mary Woods’ view
-The President’s view
-Extent of coverage
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Staff
-Black and white wedding photographs
******************************************************************************
Letter to Woods for President
-Pierre Rinfret
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:46 pm
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/10/2020. 7m
8s segment cleared for release. 33s remain closed as 519-017-w003.]
[Personal Returnable]
[519-017-w003]
[Duration: 7m 8s]
Manolo Sanchez left at an unknown time before 7:07 pm
The President’s schedule
-Dinner
-Delivery of Life magazine to Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Estimated time
Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox wedding
-Media comments
-Washington Post reporter
-Impression of the wedding
-Rose Mary Woods’ view
-Contact with the Kennedys and Johnsons
-Treatment by the President
-Future contact with the White House
-Rose Mary Woods’ opinion
-Helene (Colesie) Drown
-Howard E. Cox, Jr. and Anne C. (Finch) Cox
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[519-017-w003]
[Duration: 33s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
******************************************************************************
Jack Drown and Helene (Colesie) Drown
-Relationship
-Herbert W. Kalmbach’s role
-California visits
-The President’s schedule
-Visits with Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Helene (Colesie) Drown
-Appearance at wedding and engagement party
-Effect on the President
Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Dinner
The President’s schedule
-Relaxation
-California trip
-Guests
-Herbert W. Kalmbach’s role
-Helene (Colesie) Drown
******************************************************************************
The President and Woods left at 7:07 pmAlso recorded on June 14, 1971
- 005-067 6:46 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 6:46 pm to 6:57 pm.
- 519-018 7:07 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:07 pm and 11:59 pm.
- 005-068 7:13 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 7:13 pm to 7:15 pm.
- 258-007 7:13 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:13 pm to 7:15 pm.
- 005-069 7:15 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:15 pm and 7:19 pm.
- 258-008 7:15 PM · 2 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 7:15 pm and 7:19 pm.
- 258-009 7:15 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:15 pm and 7:19 pm.
- 005-070 7:19 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Mitchell, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:19 pm to 7:22 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 519-017, June 14, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/519-017 (accessed October 18, 2026).