Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 566 › Conversation 566-002

Nixon, Schlesinger & Doub on Oval Office and Presidential gifts

Tuesday, August 17, 1971 · 12:55 PM–1:10 PM ET · Oval Office

ParticipantsBull, Stephen B.; Robb, Roger; Schlesinger, James R. (Dr.); Schlesinger, Cora; Schlesinger, Charles; Schlesinger, Ann; Schlesinger, William; Schlesinger, Emily; Schlesinger, Thomas; Schlesinger, Clara; Martin, Laura; Doub, William O.; Doub, Joseph; Doub, Albert; Doub, Albert A.; Doub, Albert A. (Mrs.); Radcliffe, George M. (Mrs.); Radcliffe, George M.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Ford, Gerald R.; Griffin, Robert P.Conversation566-002 on Tape 566 (tape position 01:11:38–01:26:36)StartTuesday, August 17, 1971 at 12:55 PMEndTuesday, August 17, 1971 at 1:10 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 566-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon hosted a social gathering in the Oval Office for Dr. James R. Schlesinger, his family, and the Doub and Radcliffe families. The meeting primarily served as a ceremonial visit featuring a photographic session and the presentation of presidential gifts, including cufflinks and Apollo viewers, to the guests. Following the departure of the families, the President briefly discussed his schedule, specifically regarding the Oakland A's and Henry Kissinger, with Alexander P. Butterfield, Gerald R. Ford, and Robert P. Griffin.

Audio

Download MP3 (part 1) · 169.3 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 171.7 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 8.1 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 01:11:38 into the tape and ends around 01:26:36.

Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

· Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.
1:12:35You know, what I'd like to do is have the, uh, you know, all those successors of the family right here in the adult family right here.
1:12:38Okay?
1:12:38It all depends on whether it's a successor.
1:12:54In the question of time, you can stand right here, please.
1:12:55And the Dow family right here.
1:12:55Come this way, please.
1:12:56One flight.
1:12:56Dow family right here.
1:12:56In the question of time, you're over there.
1:12:57This is Dow.
1:12:58Stand right here.
1:13:20As soon as this word begins to accomplish,
1:13:49Now this is such a difficult question.
1:13:50I'm worried that our kids are just going to pay for it.
1:13:51I'm worried that our kids are just going to pay for it.
1:14:22One, two, three.
1:14:45Thank you.
1:15:35All right.
1:16:15I am a hotel.
1:16:16I am a hotel.
1:16:16I am a hotel.
1:16:39I think we're going to get through it, and I think we're probably going to get through it.
1:16:41I don't have any kind of frustration.
1:16:42I'm sure it's going to be great.
1:16:43I don't have any kind of frustration.
1:16:43I don't have any kind of frustration.
1:16:44I don't have any kind of frustration.
1:16:45I don't have any kind of frustration.
1:17:09Thank you.
1:17:09Thank you.
1:17:09Thank you.
1:17:36You got them all?
1:17:37Yes, sir.
1:18:05Hi, my name is .
1:18:06My name is .
1:18:06.
1:18:06.
1:18:06.
1:18:06.
1:18:06.
1:18:06.
1:18:06.
1:18:06. .
1:18:33Can I take this opportunity, please?
1:18:34Can I take this opportunity, please?
1:18:35Can I take this opportunity, please?
1:18:35Can I take this opportunity?
1:19:05But you're getting more money than John.
1:19:06Because you changed jobs and not those.
1:19:07You got plenty of incentives already.
1:19:08I just don't ask the Congress to pay some salary.
1:19:09That's $200 a season.
1:19:21I mean, it's a big deal.
1:19:22It's about $400 a minute.
1:19:22Well, let's see over here.
1:19:23This room is all of us.
1:19:23I'm just very thankful to you.
1:19:24I'll at least call home.
1:19:24I'll see you all morning.
1:19:25I'll call home.
1:19:25I'll see you soon.
1:19:26I'll see you tomorrow.
1:19:26One, two, three.
1:19:26Yes, this is that.
1:19:27Yes.
1:19:27Now, let's see.
1:19:27I'll at least hand it to you.
1:19:28I'll hand it to you.
1:19:51That's right.
1:19:52That's right.
1:19:52Here we are.
1:20:08Four hundred dollars and a cent.
1:20:09He doesn't either way get a great cent.
1:20:10I told Mr. Jolson it was a counterfeit, and he said, you're right.
1:20:11Okay.
1:20:11I just asked for confidence.
1:20:12I think they'll pass that part.
1:20:12It's not a problem.
1:20:27Oh, my God.
1:20:28Well, Mr. Ralph tried to save you all.
1:20:28I didn't.
1:20:29I didn't.
1:20:47We'd like to give you a few little gifts for the children.
1:20:48This is for the doll families.
1:20:48See, they're all over that.
1:20:49This is for the ladies.
1:21:05The presidential seal, the bow.
1:21:05So you can offer that.
1:21:06Now, see, look at the boys.
1:21:06They're all getting covered.
1:21:07Yeah, that's right.
1:21:08So you all get covered.
1:21:08And it's a small viewer.
1:21:09It's an old man.
1:21:09You see the old man?
1:21:31That's for you, Tom.
1:21:32All right, you get it too.
1:21:32We get one for the whole family, but we do it, you know, if they need some money.
1:21:34There, there you are.
1:21:34Now let's see.
1:21:35For this man, we have a...
1:21:54In the smallest barrels we have, this is the presidential seal.
1:21:55It's a little charm that you wear.
1:21:56And then for a reason.
1:22:11from the boys.
1:22:11Boys are outnumbered 23 to 4.
1:22:12Oh, I see.
1:22:12Oh, I see.
1:22:12Oh, I see.
1:22:44Thank you.
1:23:05The kids are all right.
1:23:05The kids are all right.
1:23:06Well, everybody wants to eat, you know.
1:23:07That's why you're going.
1:23:07You're all going to miss this.
1:23:08Well, we thank you and, uh, hope you wish you the very best of the year.
1:23:10You've already had good children in this room before.
1:23:11You see, here's the seagulls.
1:23:12Cousin Peter Roosevelt was the designer of the room.
1:23:37and there is over there that's Julie in that color.
1:23:38Do you know who that is?
1:23:39What again?
1:23:39That's George Washington.
1:23:39It's a very unusual one of the things that's why it's marked there.
1:23:41It seems to be unrecognizable.
1:23:41That's one of the things that's why it's one of the deals.
1:23:43And, you know, either it feels it also.
1:24:03So, the other things here is the flags and the services.
1:24:04You're always told where the President is and where he goes.
1:24:06I mean, it is his office.
1:24:06They know where he is and where he's going to be placed.
1:24:07And this is changed because he's been elected on this district.
1:24:24Goodbye.
1:24:24Goodbye.
1:24:24Goodbye.
1:24:39Well, uh, they can come in and see you now.
1:24:40Well, goodbye.
1:24:40Oh, well.
1:24:40Mr. Rogers is right behind you.
1:24:41It's a good start.
1:24:41My wife's going to follow you.
1:25:08Well, we're so glad to have you here.
1:25:09We're honored to have you in this room.
1:25:39Bring the, uh, bring the, uh, what was that now?
1:25:40Henry, he says he needs some 30 seconds.
1:25:40Let's do it.
1:25:40All right, well, this is fun.
1:25:41Oh, uh, let's see here.
1:25:41We've got a way to do this.
1:25:42Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
1:25:42Well, uh, I guess I need a single idea.
1:26:06He was anxious to get in, and then he got out of it, and he was fine.
1:26:08Well, I'd like to say, I'd like to say that I have had so well as I could to pass on to you the book, and I ask you to come, which is the full text.
1:26:11And you have to call me back in a second.

NARA Description

On August 17, 1971, Stephen B. Bull, Roger Robb, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Cora Schlesinger, Charles Schlesinger, Ann Schlesinger, William Schlesinger, Emily Schlesinger, Thomas Schlesinger, Clara Schlesinger, Laura Martin, William O. Doub, Joseph Doub, Albert Doub, Albert A. Doub, Mrs. Albert A. Doub, Mrs. George M. Radcliffe, George M. Radcliffe, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Gerald R. Ford, and Robert P. Griffin met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:55 pm to 1:10 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 566-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 566-2

Date: August 17, 1971
Time: 12:55 pm - 1:10 pm
Location: Oval Office

Stephen B. Bull met with Judge Roger Robb, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Schlesinger, Cora
Schlesinger, Charles Schlesinger, Ann Schlesinger, William Schlesinger, Emily Schlesinger,
Thomas Schlesinger, Clara Schlesinger, James Schlesinger, Laura Martin, Mr. and Mrs. William
O. Doub, Joseph Doub, Albert Doub, Mr. and Mrs. Albert A. Doub, and Mr. and Mrs. George
M. Radcliffe; members of the press were present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Placement

     Agenda
         -Press

     General conversation

The President entered at an unknown time after 12:55 pm

     [Photographic session]

     Oath of office

     Introductions

     Oath of office

     [General conversation]
          -George P. Shultz
          -Congress

     Presentation of gifts by President
          -Presidential seal and bow
          -Cufflinks
          -Apollo viewer

     General conversation

     Oval Office
          -Furnishings
               -Theodore Roosevelt
                     -Rug
                          -Presidential seal
               -Julie Nixon Eisenhower portrait
               -George Washington portrait
                     -Rembrandt Peale
               -Flags
               -Music box

     [General conversation]

     President’s schedule
          -Oakland A’s

     [General conversation]

Schlesinger, et al. left and Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 1:09 pm.

     President's schedule
          -Oakland A's
          -Henry A. Kissinger

Gerald R. Ford and Robert P. Griffin entered at 1:10 pm.

     President’s schedule
          -Oakland A’s

The President, Bull, and Butterfield left at 1:10 pm.

Also recorded on August 17, 1971

  • 070-002 12:54 PM · 8 min — a White House tour group met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 12:54 pm and 11:59 pm.
  • 566-003 1:10 PM · 3 min — Gerald R. Ford, Robert P. Griffin, President Richard M. Nixon, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:10 pm to 1:14 pm.
  • 566-004 1:14 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles O. Finley, and Dick Williams met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:14 pm and 1:29 pm.
  • 566-005 1:14 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:14 pm and 1:29 pm.
  • 566-006 1:29 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:29 pm to 1:32 pm.
  • 566-007 1:32 PM · 38 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Robert P. Griffin, Alexander P. Butterfield, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:32 pm to 2:12 pm.
  • 566-008 2:12 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:12 pm and 2:23 pm.
  • 566-009 2:23 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:23 pm to 2:25 pm.

All 48 conversations from August 17, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 566-002, August 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/566-002 (accessed October 12, 2026).