Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 535 › Conversation 535-010

Nixon, Hughes & Mendozo on Master Chief Eleuterio Mendoza

Friday, July 2, 1971 · 11:36 AM–11:39 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Mendozo, Eleuterio; Mendozo, Eleuterio (Mrs.); Mendozo, Elizabeth; Hughes, James D. ("Don")Conversation535-010 on Tape 535 (tape position 02:34:46–02:38:07)StartFriday, July 2, 1971 at 11:36 AMEndFriday, July 2, 1971 at 11:39 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 535-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Master Chief Eleuterio Mendoza, his family, and Brig. Gen. James D. Hughes to recognize and commend the Chief's dedicated service at the White House. The brief social encounter included a photo opportunity, the presentation of presidential gifts, and informal conversation about the Mendoza children. The meeting served as a formal farewell and expression of appreciation for the Chief's contributions.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 73% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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All right.
She said, notice that it's my office.
I got a picture with the chief before you leave.
It's not all right.
I'm just happy to see you again, Melissa.
How are you doing, Michael?
All right.
We met them as we came through the truth of the church.
They watched it.
They didn't understand us.
They didn't understand us.
Oh, this was good.
We got you here before the police.
We went back to the church.
She was talking to you.
Go ahead, Paul.
I'm going to go ahead.
Let me see.
Okay, here we go.
Well, I appreciate the wonderful service the Chief has given to us.
He's a great one.
We've got to miss him.
We've got to get him back.
Is he there?
Yeah, but he's not wanting to get off.
I'm so proud of him.
And here he is, the President should come and treat you with tea.
Thank you for that.
And you, you're going to win both of them.
You're going to win the next one, President.
He's going to treat you with tea today.
How old are you now?
You're 14.
You're around 14 now.
Well, it's an exciting day.
It's the coming of the time here.
We can say the whole world is going to be like us.
It'll be very different.
But it'll be a good one.
Yes.
Good one.
Very much.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
We wish you the best.
Goodbye.
One more time.
One more time.
That's right.
That's what we say.
One more time.
Keep your toes down.
Keep your toes down.

NARA Description

On July 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield [?], Eleuterio Mendozo, Mrs. Eleuterio Mendozo, Elizabeth Mendozo, and James D. ("Don") Hughes met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:36 am to 11:39 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 535-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 535-10

Date: July 2, 1971
Time: 11:36 am - 11:39 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with an unknown man (Alexander P. Butterfield?).

     Item for the President to sign

Master Chief Eleuterio Mendoza, Mrs. Eleuterio Mendoza, Michael Mendoza, Elizabeth
Mendoza, and Brig. Gen. James D. Hughes entered at 11:36 am.
[The White House photographer was present for part of the meeting.]

     Arrangements for photograph
          -Number of copies

     Mendoza's service in the White House

     Presidential gifts

     Michael and Elizabeth Mendoza
         -Ages

Mendoza et al. left at 11:39 am.

Also recorded on July 2, 1971

  • 535-006 11:27 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, Marjorie P. Acker, Herbert A. Peterson, Mrs. Herbert A. Peterson, Debra Peterson, Eric Peterson, and Jeffrey Peterson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:27 am to 11:29 am.
  • 535-007 11:29 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Robert G. Houdek, Robert G. Houdek, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:29 am to 11:32 am.
  • 535-008 11:32 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:32 am.
  • 535-009 11:32 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Lane Dwinell, Elizabeth (Cushman) Dwinell, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:32 am to 11:36 am.
  • 535-011 11:39 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Robert J. Newbrand, Mrs. Robert J. Newbrand, Janice Newbrand, Patricia Newbrand, Michael Newbrand, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:39 am to 11:41 am.
  • 535-012 11:41 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:43 am.
  • 535-013 11:43 AM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Wimer D. Mizell, Eddie Bane, Larry Calufetti, Benny Castillo, Bob Ellenberger, John Caneira, Nell Ellenberger, Ron Fraser, Doug Gerlach, Marty Harrington, Peter Helt, Tony Hewitt, Cliff Holland, Fred Lynn, Bill McClain, Roger McGill, Fred Mims, Paul Patterson, Jeff Port, Ken Reed, Jay Smith, Jack Smitheran, Tim Steele, Jackson Todd, Al Torregano, Bobby Winkles, and Elinor Winkles met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:43 am to 11:52 am.
  • 535-014 11:54 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Roman C. Pucinski, Orlando Rivera, and Arthur Fagan met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:54 am to 11:57 am.

All 78 conversations from July 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 535-010, July 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/535-010 (accessed October 13, 2026).