Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 531 › Conversation 531-002

Nixon, McCracken & Houttakker on Henrik S. Houthakker

Monday, June 28, 1971 · 4:32 PM–4:35 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Houttakker, Henrik S.; McCracken, Paul W.; White House photographer; Bull, Stephen B.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Houttakker, Henrik S.; McCracken, Paul W.; White House photographer; Bull, Stephen B.Conversation531-002 on Tape 531 (tape position 00:02:54–00:06:00)StartMonday, June 28, 1971 at 4:32 PMEndMonday, June 28, 1971 at 4:35 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 531-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with departing economic advisor Henrik S. Houthakker and Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Paul W. McCracken to express appreciation for Houthakker’s service. The meeting primarily served as a farewell, featuring a photograph session and the presentation of gifts. The President concluded the brief engagement by acknowledging Houthakker's contributions to the administration's economic efforts.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 42% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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We're just going to lose you, huh?
In fact, we're going to have to hire you, huh?
Well, you'll know our number.
You'll know our number.
Well, I really appreciate your work.
to do that and all this to come out right.
Get it back.
Get it back open.
Oh, you're good.
There, good.
You can see some of that in the camera, right?
You can see the whole blue stuff.
Oh, you got the other one.
I want you to know you're all welcome here and we appreciate you being part of our special group of people that come in to help.
We need all the praise you can get.
We need all the praise.
All the praise.
Tell me about it.
Advice.
In 2008, you did a great thing.
Yes.
It's going to work out.
It's going to work out.
It's going to work out.
Some of the people here.
Well, we've got you prepared.
I've got some confidence for you.
Oh, thanks very much.
Hold on a minute.
I've got to go back.
I've got to go back.
That's right.
That's right.
And, uh, we just wish you the very best.
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.
The dean of the medical schools.
That's right.
Oh, I'm sure it's for the school plans.
Good evening.
We appreciate it.
We consider you as a member of our family.
Wish you the very best.
I don't think anyone should work.
We couldn't.

NARA Description

On June 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henrik S. Houttakker, Paul W. McCracken, White House photographer, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:32 pm to 4:35 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 531-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 531-2

Date: June 28, 1971
Time: 4:32 pm - 4:35 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henrik S. Houthakker and Paul W. McCracken; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Houthakker's departure

     Arrangements for photograph

     Houthakker's service

     Presentation of gifts by President
     Deans of Law School and Medical School at Harvard University

Houthakker and McCracken left and Stephen B. Bull entered at 4:35 pm.

     Jane Dart
          -Justin W. Dart
Bull left at 4:35 pm.

Also recorded on June 28, 1971

  • 531-003 4:35 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jane Dart, John D. Ehrlichman, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:35 pm to 4:39 pm.
  • 531-004 4:39 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Barbara ("Bobbie") (Greene) Kilberg, John D. Ehrlichman, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:39 pm to 4:41 pm.
  • 531-005 4:41 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jerome M. Rosow, James D. Hodgson, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:41 pm to 4:44 pm.
  • 531-006 4:44 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 4:44 pm.
  • 531-007 4:44 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, C. Fred Bergsten, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:44 pm to 4:47 pm.
  • 531-008 4:47 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, T. Warren Parker, Charles W. Colson, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:47 pm to 4:49 pm.
  • 531-009 4:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William E. Casselman, II, White House photographer, and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:49 pm to 4:52 pm.
  • 531-010 4:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William E. Kriegsman, Stephen B. Bull, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:52 pm to 4:54 pm.

All 69 conversations from June 28, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 531-002, June 28, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/531-002 (accessed October 5, 2026).