Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 619 › Conversation 619-018

Nixon, Hittle & Brennan on Marine Corps and Military affairs

Tuesday, November 16, 1971 · 12:16 PM–12:18 PM ET · Oval Office ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Hittle, James D.; Brennan, John V.; White House photographerConversation619-018 onTape 619 (tape position 02:16:41–02:18:57)StartTuesday, November 16, 1971 at 12:16 PMEndTuesday, November 16, 1971 at 12:18 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 619-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with James D. Hittle and John V. Brennan for a brief ceremonial session that included gift exchanges and official photographs. The participants engaged in lighthearted reminiscing about vintage automobiles and their shared professional history regarding the mission and role of the U.S. Marine Corps. The visitors also expressed their appreciation for the President’s advocacy and administrative support for American servicemen.

Marine Corps
Military affairs
Ceremonial visit
Vintage automobiles
Servicemen support

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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President of the town of Mount Hill, we have an argument to be made with the President of the United States of the United States of the Union, and we're going to have to send a formal letter to the governor now.

Aye.

All you have to leave is a picture of your complex.

So, uh, now, I, uh, have a complex.

That's right.

So there's your complex.

That's your badge.

And here's your type list.

And, uh, and that's, well, here's your driver's license.

I'll tell you, for instance, if someone wants to start off with a 12-second attempt, you just do this.

Ha!

I want to tell you that vehicles have worked with you and for you, but what's been done with the serviceman under your administration, I don't think it's ever happened before.

The real solid things have been done with the American serviceman.

But here's the good thing, anything that's been part of it has been done with Jerry and my wife.

And you know her.

Our relationship and that security goes back a long way.

If you recall, it was through some of our mutual friends in Azusa, George Meyers, Solomon Meyers.

George Meyers, right.

I first met you.

Yeah, I first met you when we were fighting for a role in the mission for the Marine Corps in the United States.

And you were one of our stalwarts to help us get it in.

And sir, that whole mission helped.

Well, as a matter of fact, I was just thinking, too, the part about the 75 problem on the stage.

Mine cost me $210, so it was, and I had a rumble seat, though.

Did you ever come out of the way with a rumble seat?

Remember the old rumble seat?

I sure do, because I had a friend in college that had one, and I couldn't forget it.

Well, thank you.

I appreciate your work.

That's all right.

How grand is it?

I don't think we should promote him or not.

I certainly think he's old, yes sir.

He could just become a hankster.

Well, I always wondered if he made it to the LOR.

I don't know.

Thank you very much.

NARA Description

On November 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, James D. Hittle, John V. Brennan, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:16 pm to 12:18 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 619-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 619-18

Date: November 16, 1971
Time: 12:16 pm - 12:18 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with James D. Hittle and John V. (“Jack”) Brennan; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

[Photograph session]

     Presentation of gifts by the President

     The President's efforts for servicemen
     George Meyer Salomon [?]

     Military unification
           -Marine Corps

     Model "A" car
         -Rumble seat

     Brennan

Hittle and Brennan left at 12:18 pm.

Also recorded on November 16, 1971

619-016 12:07 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Arthur S. Flemming, Johnny C. Unitas, Carmella LaSpada, John B. Martin, George T. Bell, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:07 pm to 12:15 pm.
619-017 12:15 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:16 pm.
619-030 12:15 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:16 pm.
619-019 12:18 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Dr. K. Wayne Smith, Henry A. Kissinger, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:18 pm to 12:20 pm.
619-020 12:20 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:20 pm.
619-021 12:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Kenneth M. Smith, Patrick J. Buchanan, Lyndon K. Allin, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:20 pm to 12:22 pm.
619-022 12:22 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:22 pm.
619-023 12:22 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John H. Hogue, William E. Timmons, Clark MacGregor, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:22 pm to 12:25 pm.

All 90 conversations from November 16, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 619-018, November 16, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/619-018 (accessed September 18, 2026).