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Conversation 558-005

TapeTape 558StartMonday, August 9, 1971 at 4:33 PMEndMonday, August 9, 1971 at 4:37 PMTape start time01:32:20Tape end time01:38:04ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Campbell, James F.;  Ill, Charles L.;  Lynn, Laurece E.;  Mosiman, Donald M.;  Watson, Norman V.;  Wilbur, Richard S.;  Kinsley, Daniel T.;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with a group of newly appointed assistant secretaries and administrators from various federal agencies to formally welcome them into his administration. During the brief gathering, the President emphasized the importance of their public service roles, distinguishing those who serve to 'do something' from those who merely seek status. The meeting concluded with Nixon presenting the appointees with presidential gifts, including golf balls and cufflinks, as a gesture of appreciation for their upcoming work on key domestic and foreign policy issues.

Presidential AppointmentsPublic ServiceExecutive BranchFederal AgenciesAdministration
AudioNARA Description

On August 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, James F. Campbell, Charles L. Ill, Laurece E. Lynn, Donald M. Mosiman, Norman V. Watson, Richard S. Wilbur, Daniel T. Kinsley, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:33 pm to 4:37 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 558-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 558-5

Date: August 9, 1971
Time: 4:33 pm - 4:37 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with James F. Campbell, Charles L. Ill, Laurence E. Lynn, Donald M.
Mosiman, Norman V. Watson, Richard S. Wilbur, and Daniel T. Kingsley; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Introductions
           -Appointees
                -Campbell, Agency for International Development [AID]
                -Ill, Navy
                -Lynn, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
                -Mosiman, Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
                -Watson, Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]
                -Wilbur, Defense Department

     Government service
         -Forthcoming responsibilities
         -Recognition
         -Public servants
               -Types
                    -Office of President
                    -Assistant secretaries
         -Budget
         -Issues
               -Foreign affairs
                    -Defense
                          -Navy
                    -War and peace
               -Domestic
                    -Economics
                    -Crime, drugs, environment, housing, health

     Presentation of gifts by the President
          -Golf balls
          -Cufflinks

Campbell, et al. left at 4:37 pm.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

President, would you like to introduce some of your new appointees?
Yes.
James Campbell, Assistant Administrator, A&ID.
Come over here, we're going to get a picture of you over here.
It's a real pleasure.
Thank you.
Charles Dale, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, for I&L.
Very nice to meet you, President.
Thank you.
Lawrence Lynn, Assistant Secretary, ECW, for Planning and Evaluation.
Don Moseman, Assistant Administrator, EPA, for Regional Programs.
Norman Watson, Assistant Secretary, HUD, for Housing Management.
After Richard Wilbur, he's at the sanitary expense for health and land.
Right.
Well, there isn't too much I can say at all, you know, that you've taken all these assignments, that you'll be undertaking over work, and that you probably know all you've done before.
which of course in a way is
in the sense that maybe you're a man even more.
I once read a description, well, as a matter of fact, the description was about presidents, and there's two kinds of men in the office.
There are people who want to be president, they're around the president.
There are some who run because they want to be somebody, and there are some who run
because they want to do something.
And so basically, I always think, when I meet people at the assistant secretary level, which of course all of you are, that you're doing it not because you want to beat somebody, but because you want to do something.
And that means we're a great deal, certainly in the great deal of the country.
So with that, we just wish you the best.
I hope you don't spend too much money.
I just couldn't be the president anymore.
Well, you'll spend a lot of your money on that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.
No way, no way.
I got a ton of money in here tomorrow to get me over there with a few more.
That's right, sir.
That really is the problem.
Joe, I'm interested to be with you on this, even though some of you are, well, a person of 80 years, I think the latest is actually the best.
Most people think the parents of their brothers and sisters.
The war and peace issues, and of course the economic issue of another level of magnitude, the issue of old safety crimes, drugs, those have appealed.
The naturalist appeal in the farm, in the house, in medicine and the rest of them, you really stop to think about the things that you do, except for the economic issue of salt and bread and butter, it has more effect.
And he said, you're not going to feel better.
All the rest of you.
At least at this particular time.
So, just reassuring you that what you do is important.
You'll never be able to make your lives a little better.
That's how I think it is.
Larry, you're all right.
Thank you.
You're all right.
You're all right.
You will be caught now.
This is a presidential job for all of you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We're proud to have you with us.
We'll see you around.
Thank you.
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