President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and later aide Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss a range of personal, administrative, and political matters. The conversation covered the President's upcoming schedule and need for relaxation, the political threat posed by Democratic candidates—specifically Ted Kennedy and Edmund Muskie—and the ongoing efforts to secure Nixon's reelection. Nixon also discussed the importance of the Azores summit regarding international economic policy and authorized various administrative tasks, including follow-up meetings and correspondence with foreign dignitaries.
On December 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:33 am to 11:45 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 638-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 638-005
Date: December 15, 1971
Time: 11:33 am - 11:45 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Rose Mary Woods.
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[638-005-w001]
[Duration: 29s]
The President’s schedule
-Game
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The President’s schedule
-Florida
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[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed a nd
cleared for release. The withdrawal is now categorized as a PRMPA Personal Returnable (G)
and was reviewed under deed of gift 06/13/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[638-005-w007]
[Duration: 17s]
The President’s schedule
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Schedule
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The President’s schedule
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Washington Post coverage
-White House decorations
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Green Room
-Kennedys
-Mrs. Nixon
Decorations
-Oval Office
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-State gifts
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-“Star of the President” crystal
President's schedule
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/13/2019. 2m
11s segment cleared for release with two segments of 3s and 52s remaining closed as 638-005-
w003 and 638-005-w008 respectively.]
[Personal Returnable]
[638-005-w003]
[Duration: 2m 11s]
The President’s schedule
-Relaxation
-The President's conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Doesn’t play bridge, poker, or watch movies during the week
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-John F. Kennedy
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Heart attack
-Golf
-Florida
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[638-005-w003]
[Duration: 3s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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The President’s schedule
-The President's workload
-Public opinion
-Rose Mary Woods’s opinion
-Charles W. Colson
-Unknown man
-GM plant
-Opinion from working class
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal Returnable]
[638-005-w008]
[Duration: 52s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
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Woods's schedule
-Dinner party
-Maurice H. Stans
-John A. Volpe
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Clark MacGregor
-Earl L. Butz
-Rogers C.B. Morton
-John N. Mitchell
-Martha (Beall) Mitchell
-Elliot L. and Anne F. Richardson
-George P. and Helena (“Obie”) Shultz
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:33 am.
President's schedule
-Meeting with Congress
-William L. Safire
-Upcoming Presidential election
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 11:45 am.
Future of country
-Democrats
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[638-005-w004]
[Duration: 34s]
Future of country
-Democrats
-Democratic Party presidential nomination
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Rose Mary Woods’s opinion
-Democratic National Committee [DNC]
-Debts
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Woods's dinner party
-Tone
-George W. and Lenore L. Romney
Azores meeting
-Letter to Portuguese Prime Minister [Dr. Marcello Jose des Neves Alves Caetano]
and Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Aldrich, Jr.
-Gifts
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[638-005-w006]
[Duration: 59s]
The President's schedule
-Suits
-December 27, 1971
-Tricia Nixon Cox and Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Florida
-Weather
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Qualities
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Azores meeting
-Significance
-Devaluation
-Jobs
-News reports
Woods left at 11:45 am.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.