Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 555 › Conversation 555-013

Nixon, Whitaker & Keeler on Cloud seeding and Farm editors

Thursday, August 5, 1971 · 8:50 PM–9:43 PM ET · Oval Office · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Whitaker, John C.; Keeler, Ruby; Van, Bobby; Marriott, J. WillardConversation555-013 on Tape 555 (tape position 04:41:26–04:49:43)StartThursday, August 5, 1971 at 8:50 PMEndThursday, August 5, 1971 at 9:43 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 555-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon utilized this time to dictate several administrative tasks, including a memorandum to John C. Whitaker regarding a report on cloud seeding for a recent farm editors meeting. Additionally, he dictated personal letters of appreciation to performers Ruby Keeler and Bobby Van following their recent interactions with the First Family. The President also dictated a note to J. Willard Marriott to express gratitude for the hospitality provided during the Nixon family's stay at the Essex House.

  • Cloud seeding
  • Farm editors
  • Ruby Keeler
  • Bobby Van
  • J. Willard Marriott
  • Correspondence
  • Essex House

Audio

Download MP3 · 16.5 MB

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 4 minutes of this recording (about 57% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
in the farm editors meeting.
The question was raised with regard to crowds at the Cloud City.
In the meeting with the farm editors,
This is a letter to Ruby Keeler.
Dear Miss Keeler,
An address I can do so far with him.
Hey, uh, I'm sure you know that both of us have mentioned that I'm always sent to be with Ruby.
Ash.
Greatest star of the moon.
Parents.
over the years.
I read papers over the years, great.
Very good.
Hello, Danette.
What's one of the best?
I thought one of the most enjoyable.
shows we have seen on Broadway in years.
And the favorable response of the audience.
that the American people stole.
Probably for some of the way out.
They've had it in the door in recent times, very often.
And really, you played it along the way back to Washington on the plane.
It's a trade to find that you played it off in the 80s.
Under the certain chances.
I'm particularly proud to have you.
You was one of my presidential golf balls.
The next time you plan to shoot no more than one, I am sending one with this letter.
Is that mine?
Appreciation and congratulations again to the cast, bridge managers, and all those who participated.
and giving us such a memorable evening.
And then Bobby Van, E-A-N. Give us your van.
I'm going to be out of the water.
Which was taken off of one of my recent television broadcasts.
Paragraph.
And you would much prefer to have it.
It was...
and by all the applicants who went out to talk to her on the occasion of our daughter Grace's wedding.
Period.
Paragraph.
In the end, extending our best wishes to you and your wife, Elaine,
on the stage, on the screen, and talking.
And he is here.
This is Joe.
I'm Bill Marion.
Here we go.
Pat and I visited Trisha at, uh,
The ethics house in the yard last night.
Your resident manager, Mr. Malone, and the members of your fine staff could not have made a smart welcome.
You can be proud of this splendid relation to the Marriott family.
We are in the yard.
forward to staying there unless my schedule requires a speech at another hotel.
Best first regards to...

NARA Description

On August 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John C. Whitaker, Ruby Keeler, Bobby Van, and J. Willard Marriott met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 555-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 555-13

Date: August 5, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President dictated a memorandum to John C. Whitaker.

     Farm editors meeting
          -Cloud seeding
               -Request for report
               -Department of Interior
                    -Desalinization

The President dictated a letter to Ruby Keeler at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43
pm.

     President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
          -Admiration for Keeler

     Visit to Broadway show
           -No, No Nanette
           -Audience response
                 -US public
           -Playbill

     Presidential golf ball

     Expression of appreciation to cast

The President dictated a letter to Bobby Van at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm.

     Autographed picture
          -Snapshot
          -Photo by Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
               -Tricia Nixon Cox's wedding

     Expression of good wishes
          -Elaine Van

The President dictated a letter to J. Willard Marriott at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and
9:43 pm.

     Visit by President and Mrs. Nixon
           -Tricia Nixon Cox
                 -Essex House
                 -Mr. Malone, resident manager
           -President's expression of appreciation
           -Possible future to New York

Also recorded on August 6, 1971

  • 555-014 8:50 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm.
  • 555-015 8:50 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm.
  • 555-016 8:50 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Jim Brown met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm.
  • 555-017 8:50 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm.
  • 556-001 9:42 AM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:42 am to 10:00 am.
  • 556-002 10:00 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:00 am.
  • 556-003 10:00 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:00 am to 10:03 am.
  • 556-020 10:03 AM · 2 min — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:03 am and 10:54 am.

All 35 conversations from August 6, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 555-013, August 6, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/555-013 (accessed October 24, 2026).