Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 555 › Conversation 555-005
Nixon, Percy & Atkins on Constituent Relations and Ceremonial Events
Thursday, August 5, 1971 · 1:15 PM–1:46 PM ET · Oval Office · 30 min
AI Summary
President Nixon held a series of brief, informal meetings in the Oval Office with various members of Congress and constituent groups. The sessions were largely ceremonial, involving a bill-signing for veterans' loans, the presentation of a Gideons International Bible, and the reception of commemorative gifts including artwork and presidential keepsakes. These interactions served as photo opportunities and constituent relations, allowing the President to engage with representatives and their guests on topics ranging from local history to personal anecdotes.
- Constituent Relations
- Ceremonial Events
- Bill Signing
- Gideons International
- Congressional Visitors
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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You go to school there?
University.
You bet.
Not at the Great Eats.
Oh, they've got a very good football team, too.
Let's see, what do we want to do?
Well, the senator would stand next to you while you sign the bill, Mr. President.
Yeah, let's see.
We'll just have to get one in at two.
Right now, sir.
You're in your bill, sir.
Great.
You come over and get a job here.
We'll prepare it for you.
This is for you.
And, uh...
Here you go.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
This is the greatest Bible country in the world.
Middle Tennessee, I'm all about it.
I know.
Mr. President, we certainly consider it an honor for you to
in the early Bible, places like the Gideons.
Now, you of all know, Gideons are preaching business and perfection.
I mean, who would give up their time to believe in the Bible and the Gideons?
There are apostles in the church and all over the world.
And there's only some national heritage that the Church of God has found in the church of God and the people of the Church of God.
We pray for you, and other men are going to be here to be sure that we bless you on our prayer.
God bless you.
Amen.
We're all going to ask whether or not these rivals are going to be good with the computer.
Not just like, did you look at one of the Air Force ones?
Yes, indeed.
Right there.
What was it?
I know.
I went in and out.
We've got a couple of senators on their way out.
So I went in and out.
I said, here.
This is probably the best book in the place.
At the bottom of the issue.
Yeah.
At the bottom of the Air Force one.
Now, you look at it.
It's a legal number of $150,000.
That's it.
Like.
In one minute, that's about 30.
In the early 1930s, a young boy who was 18 years of age left his security, his solitary home, and went to New Orleans to try to find a job.
After walking many days on the street, he got a job first as a dishwasher and then as a printer.
He owned a soda hotel.
Part of his compensation was a three-room.
His life was a life of dissident sin.
that was completed, time was completed, taking up the gambling, winemaking, softball business.
His, one of his closest friends was a confirmed, he just knew, he was a hotel engineer.
So as a result of this, he became progressive in his topic, and to the point that he said that on a number of occasions, he would go to the window of his hotel room, look out, and contemplate, try to summon the courage to attach himself to the paper.
On one such occasion, this man put his hand on a book beside the window, and it was a Bible.
He read it on the last book of the New Testament, and he wrote down the Revelation on it.
And after a few, after some days of doing this, because of leisure time, I turned to the Lord.
He got on his knees in that room.
He asked God.
This was his prayer.
He said, God, if you were real and you would reveal yourself to me, I would spend my life trying to make you known to others.
Now, that was many years ago.
Today, that man, who is Carl Bates, Dr. Carl Bates, is serving his seventh year as president of the Southern Texas Conventional Church, the largest property in the United States.
You don't know.
Don't be an authority.
... ... ... ...
Again, if you receive this one, you can talk to the Women's Association of the United States, which involves 87 other countries where we have the privilege of being a part of it.
It's a good way of being a part of it.
Well, I mean, Bill told me about this.
Bill and Howard and Howard are going to come down right there.
He's going to do it.
We always like to say it's Brock's decision, but beyond that, we don't want to get into town.
Yeah, that's right.
That's what he likes to do.
That's all he goes to.
Obviously, he'll give you a couple of chances.
Yeah.
He's up there.
I wanted to get through that one piece of that.
Let me get you a version of this.
It's definitely a hard task, but we'll do it.
Now, here's what we want to leave it up here.
One of our friends, one of my local friends, here in here, one of them said, here's what we want to hear.
And I, uh, so I give the title of the story.
You're very glad to give it this time.
That's right.
Well, it's an honor to do this.
And I go with that old joke.
I mean, you can understand a lot of
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
All right, sir.
Thank you.
Mr. President, we're bringing Senator Tapp down to the Capitol.
I'll see you later, General.
This is the Navy, in fact.
Oh, I don't know where I'm going to sit.
May I come in?
This is the last man in his life.
How are you?
Are you?
Now, let's see.
One of the big pictures here is going to be this one.
I told you.
Let me see it now.
Here we are.
Look out this way.
Hey, oh, hi.
I can tell you're six when you're teething.
Anybody that loses their shoes in the middle of the, uh, the middle of the year is six years old.
Good boy.
Thank you.
Now, I want to give you something.
What have we got here?
Everybody's, uh, everybody's... You ever look at the movie shots?
You don't see them on holidays?
Well, here's the Apollo moonshot you should take a look at.
What's up with that?
Why, of course.
And we'd like to have a little country for you.
That's the seal of the presidency.
Where is it?
We like that he likes to come to folks a little bit.
He's saying, Bob, you've got a metal band.
He's a great, great musician.
That's right.
That's right.
He's like, Johnny, I was in the theater last night.
I was like, no, my dad had to leave.
But Johnny, that's his mother.
She was a tenor.
She was a very nice lady.
She was a great lady.
uh
Good to see you.
Good to see you.
All right.
Charlie, how are you, President?
How are you?
Sorry to keep you waiting, but I ask you, how do you miss Northland?
Who is Professor Scott Laird of the University of Santa Clara?
Oh, President, well, I'm afraid that's not going to be my lifestyle.
I'll tell you a bit about it in a minute here.
It's one of my favorite parts of the country.
It's where you listen to the Broncos.
I can remember when the Broncos played in the Sugar Bowl.
Do you remember?
I certainly do.
They were great.
This gentleman has done something highly unusual.
He's done a collection of paintings, which have been very national treasure.
James Jr. is going to be contacting you and presenting them to the government to handle at which point.
The West, the West part, yeah.
Yeah, that's right.
Actually, he did them in, uh, partly on location in Vietnam.
In fact, that movie was while he was doing them.
And it's the most fantastic thing I've ever seen.
And we wanted him to meet you before you did it.
Oh, my, my, my, my.
Yeah, that's one of the years we didn't see him, huh?
Not until I was in Vietnam.
He is, uh, in Vietnam and all that stuff.
Well, listen.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Oh, it's great.
I was going to say it once, I was going to say it this year.
Greatest thing I've ever seen.
Those boys are going by.
That's the best thing I've ever seen.
I love that.
That's the best thing I've ever seen.
Yeah.
If you could be in the audience.
Yes, Mr. Justice.
I see.
I'm not an expert in this thing, so I can't answer.
I was the officer in charge of the combat artist, uh, right before World War II.
I don't know who I know about this, but I'm pretty sure that this is General Brown, the Japanese, the Japanese, and this was written for us.
This, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this.
I was amazed at what happened to each of them.
It was fantastic.
We know you're running behind schedule.
All right, let's just start it.
Well, I'm delighted to meet you and to, uh, meet you, uh, very much.
Can I, you got something to drink right now?
I guess you ought to have a personal cup.
There you are.
There's another.
Ah, all right.
You can go down here.
Put that to your wife.
You're nice.
All right.
Thank you.
Also, you have something for your wife.
You a golfer?
No.
You are?
Charlie, you're not.
I like the spirit, you know.
I remember Charlie from way back in the 60s, of course, 50s, like 50s.
The thing that he did that he always had, which is impressing people, is I'm sorry, because he's the, what you call, he's the Q, the enthusiast, of course.
So I hope he never loses it.
You know, some people never have.
And you see many young people who have strong enthusiasm.
You see many older people who have a great deal.
But this goes through, he's just full of beans.
All I've got to do is believe in something, and I'll try to thrive.
All right, thanks.
I'm going to get up to your, try to get up to your part of the country, Charlie.
Sometime, uh, maybe in, uh, in late August or September, if I'm in California.
Really?
I bet he wants to do some sort of a thing.
I thought we ought to come back and go to San Jose or one of those places again.
Wonderful.
If you're around, I'll be there.
Where are you?
Steele, uh... Everybody rocked.
That's right.
Thank you.
All right.
Mr. President, Congressman Wiggs.
Hi, Larry.
How are you?
Nice to see you.
Nice to see you.
You're always looking pretty good, I'll tell you.
Remember that pink flower thing you brought me?
I see.
I see.
Well, let me see.
You helped her.
Yeah.
Of course, you taught her.
Oh, you're good to make it.
I just thought you had remade it, if you're sorry.
.
Well, where have you had all this time?
We've had it all.
We've had it all.
We've had it all.
It is?
Yes.
This explains it all?
Yes.
You have a Pennsylvania Westman in a long period of time.
They always have a pastor.
I'm scared of this man.
I think, uh, he was just so rich, you know, when he walked out.
And, uh, he died.
I'm sure he made a lot of money out of it.
He certainly did.
He's got a lot of guts.
He's got a lot of guts.
He's never afraid.
Never afraid.
And that's what you need.
Right?
Well, that's it.
Hey, you got, we brought in, you brought in somebody that you're a public relations expert.
Yeah.
Yeah, well, thank you.
Thank you.
Or let me get, I'm going to get you something while you're here.
Now, let's see.
Larry, there's another pair coming up for you.
Your son, Ray.
And this is a little probably a catalog, perhaps.
I will let him hear it from your secretary.
Are you an adult?
Any of you adults?
Your husband or your friend?
Your friend.
I don't know why it doesn't just pop.
And there's one for you.
And good job to whoever is the best in public, not regarding the office.
I threw it on.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The president of PepsiCo is Donald Kendall, a very good friend of mine for many years.
And they bought the Wilson Gold Company a year ago, and he wanted to do something nice for people who came in.
So he just gave them a hold.
He just makes these balls and gives them to the White House to be given out to people soon.
We don't give them too many.
I want to tell you what I can do with this.
I want to feel as good as I am.
I can, I can promise.
I'll tell you that.
I'll tell you that.
I'll tell you that.
I'll tell you that.
I'll tell you that.
I'll tell you that.
I'll tell you that.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Oh, we'll look for any objects.
Of course.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and the American Vice General coming four years to the city, and so forth and so forth.
He said, I'm going to help this right here.
They keep getting wet out there.
They have a little thing here.
Why don't we go over here and get a better picture?
And that started in this canner area.
And that's the road starting from there.
And I keep that on my desk, and I do this.
I mean, after the nomination.
Yeah, well, they were such a happy future.
Ah, well, now listen, let's get, uh, let's get...
President, we, uh, we're not very profitable.
If we get past this, it's, uh, more than we're going to do better.
Uh, this little town gave you a little too much.
Oh, I see.
Exactly.
We understand now.
The main thing is you get it back.
Massachusetts attorney.
Well, it's their attorney.
Well, I believe it was Mr. Cranston.
Three of these things.
We're going to get it back.
Yes, sir.
You better.
I'd like to have it in the Senate, but that'll be another trial later each year.
But we're working on it.
Yeah.
Have it go at the right time.
You must not go back.
Isn't that wonderful?
The person I'm... Mr. Chairman, I'm a nice Italian.
I'm from Maine.
I went to Massachusetts, and I'd like to present to you, Mr. President.
That's an honor.
Yes, well, I'm very happy to have this.
Well, Mr. President, the library, everybody's here.
200 years since you've been running this yourself.
Correct.
24 years.
That's close to a year.
I'm sorry.
How old are you, Mr. President?
One for each, you know.
I see you as the artist and the metal and also the white.
You did it.
That's right.
And are you a part of the profession?
No.
You're just a...
I couldn't draw a straight line.
You're a ruler.
Then on the other side is a straight line.
I just don't know where she's at, girl.
Must be loving it.
It is?
Good.
Someday I'll come.
Someday I'll be there.
Good.
This girl will love it.
I don't know where it is.
And Mrs. Hitchcock had a little book there, too.
That is good.
All right.
You did all this at the time of the sanctuary.
What is the population of the town?
About more than 35.
It's a small town.
It's kind of creepy.
Is that why I'm scared?
No, I don't consider it a town.
It's fine.
You have your area.
It's a little over there.
That's beautiful.
Beautiful.
Well, George, they don't like this.
This is the only good maple soup.
Come on.
We want you to have a few mementos, too.
These are the presidential contracts.
Let me show you what it is.
It's the seat of the president.
Oh, my.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
Oh, my goodness.
The town is wonderful.
Thank you.
David and everyone else on the other, and send her a copy.
You know the one we had, too.
The official copy.
Rose has one out here with the children in Canada.
So they've been having that for a while, hasn't they?
Yes, we have one that's like us, but after they were married.
Wonderful.
We all saw it at the wedding, Pastor.
We love that.
Yes, sir.
Well, I'm just so glad to see you.
That's the Rose Garden right out there.
Yeah, yeah.
President May is, uh, May is Hillary's birthday, but she hasn't stopped.
She's, you and I are, uh, playing away in, uh, we're using her campaign.
I've been moved away.
All right.
Goodbye.
Good to meet you.
NARA Description
On August 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles H. Percy, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, William Brock, M. A. Henderson, W. R. Davenport, Robert A. Taft, Jr., Alexander P. Butterfield, Zachery Williams, Mrs. John C. Williams, Paul E. Funk, David Gilbert, Morris Semiatin, Charles S. Gubser, Philip Schuyler, Lawrence G. Williams, Mrs. Lawrence G. Williams, Marie A. Boyer, Marie A. Simmonds, Silvio O. Conte, Mrs. Wilfred S. Hitchcock, Mrs. George Voskly, Hugh K. Ferry, Joseph F. Mattis, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:15 pm to 1:46 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 555-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 555-5
Date: August 5, 1971
Time: 1:15 pm - 1:46 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Clifford P. Hansen; Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins was present at the
beginning of the meeting.
Wyoming
-Cheyenne
-University of Wyoming
Bill-signing ceremony
-[H R 3344, Veterans’ Direct Loans]
Hansen left at 1:18 pm.
The President met with William E. Brock, M. A. Henderson and W. R. Davenport at 1:18 pm;
Atkins was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Tennessee
-Nashville
Presentation to President
-Bible from Gideons International
-Gideons Bible
-Air Force I
-Anecdote
-Dr. Carl Hicks
-Southern Baptist Convention
-Gideons International
-Scope of operations
Brock and Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Presentation of gifts by President
-Pens
-Cufflinks
Brock, et al. left at 1:24 pm.
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield at 1:24 pm.
President's schedule
-Robert A. Taft, Jr.
-Epilepsy Poster Child
-Baker
Butterfield left at 1:24 pm.
The President met with Taft, Zachery Williams, Mrs. John C. Williams, Paul E. Funk, David
Gilbert, and Morris Semiatin at 1:24 pm; Atkins was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Epilepsy Poster Child
-Zachery Williams
-Mother
-Age
Photograph session
Presentation of gifts by President
-Apollo moonshot photograph
-Presidential seal pin
President's schedule
-Visit to New York City theater
-Johnny Bench's mother
[General conversation]
Taft, et al. left at 1:28 pm.
The President met with Charles S. Gubser and Philip Schuyler at 1:28 pm; Butterfield and Atkins
were present at the beginning of the meeting.
Schuyler
-University of Santa Clara
-Broncos [football team]
-Sugar Bowl
-Paintings
-Teamsters Union
-West Point
-Vietnam
-Injury
-Tet offensive
-West Point
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Combat artists
-World War II
-Gen. George S. Brown
Presentation of gifts by President
-Cufflinks
-Bow
Gubser
-Speeches
-President's appreciation
-President's reminiscences
-Enthusiasm quotient
-President's schedule
-San Jose
Gubser and Schuyler left at 1:33 pm.
The President met with Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence G. Williams, Mrs. Marie A. Boyer, and Mrs.
Marie A. Simmonds at 1:33 pm; Atkins was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Presentation of US flag
Pennsylvania women
-President's appreciation
Presentation of gifts by President
-Bow
-Golf ball
-Golf
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Donald McI. Kendall
-Pepsico
-Wilson Golf Company
Mrs. Williams, et al. left at 1:38 pm.
The President met with Silvio O. Conte, Mrs. Wilfred S. Hitchcock, Mrs. George Volsky, Hugh
K. Ferry, Joseph F. Mattis at 1:38 pm; Atkins was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Windsor, Massachusetts
Bicentennial celebration
-US cities
Rose Garden
Oval Office
-Picture
- [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Key Biscayne
Presentation of coin to President
-Medal
-Display
-Presidential library
-Plate
-Book
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Windsor, Massachusetts
-Population
-Mrs. Nixon
-George A. Lincoln
-Maple syrup
-Vermont
Presentation of gifts by President
-Cufflinks
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm.
Instructions to Bull
-Photograph
-Family portrait
-David Eisenhower
-Rose Mary Woods
-Wedding
Bull left and returned at an unknown time before 1:46 pm.
Rose Garden
-Instructions to John [Surname unknown]
[General conversation]
Conte, et al. left at 1:46 pm.Also recorded on August 5, 1971
- 067-013 11:57 AM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon and members of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish Speaking, including Robert H. Finch, Frederic V. Malek, Patricia R. Hitt, Antonio Rodriguez, Louie Cespedes, Clifford M. Hardin, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John B. Connally, Frank C. Carlucci, III, Thomas S. Kleppe, William H. Brown, III, Robert E. Hampton, Eugene A. Marin, Edward M. Yturri, Ted F. Martinez, Igncaio E. Lozano, Jr., Edgar A. Buttari, Manuel R. Giberga, Jorge E. Tristani, Manuel A. Gonzalez, Hilda A. Hidalgo, William C. Oldaker, Phillip V. Sanchez, Dr. Henry M. Ramirez, and John N. Mitchell., met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 11:57 am and 12:35 pm.
- 555-003 12:00 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and members of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish Speaking, including, Dr. Henry M. Ramirez, Antonio Rodriguez, Louie Cespedes, Eugene A. Marin, Edward M. Yturri, Ted F. Martinez, Ignacio E. Lozano, Jr., Edgar A. Buttari, Manuel R. Giberga, Jorge E. Tristani, Manuel A. Gonzalez, Hilda A. Hidalgo, William C. Oldaker, Philip Sanchez, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Stephen B. Bull, met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:00 pm to 12:13 pm.
- 555-019 12:35 PM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:35 pm to 12:36 pm.
- 555-004 1:13 PM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:13 pm and 1:15 pm.
- 555-006 1:46 PM · 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Manolo Sanchez, Stephen B. Bull, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:46 pm to 2:40 pm.
- 555-007 2:40 PM · 3 min — Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 3:13 pm.
- 555-008 3:21 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:21 pm and 3:23 pm.
- 555-009 3:23 PM · 1 hr 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George W. Romney, John B. Connally, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, Peter M. Flanigan, and Paul W. McCracken met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:23 pm to 4:35 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 555-005, August 5, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/555-005 (accessed October 12, 2026).