Conversation 640-009

TapeTape 640StartWednesday, December 22, 1971 at 12:45 PMEndWednesday, December 22, 1971 at 1:13 PMTape start time02:22:09Tape end time02:51:02ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rossi, Anthony T. ("Tony");  Mongelli, AcheilleRecording deviceOval Office

On December 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Anthony T. ("Tony") Rossi, and Acheille Mongelli met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:45 pm to 1:13 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 640-009 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 640-9

Date: December 22, 1971
Time: 12:45 pm - 1:13 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Anthony T. Rossi and Achilles Mangelli.

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/07/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[640-009-w001]
[Duration: 28m 41s]

       Greetings

       Choice of fabrics
              -Lightweight
              -The President’s schedule
                 -Forthcoming People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
                 -Forthcoming Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] trip
                        -Warm weather

Fabrics
          -Fall season
Styles
          -Knit fabrics
                  -Light
                  -Spring and summer style
          -March 1, 1972
          -Woven fabrics
          -Knit fabrics
                  -Lightweight

Fabric selection
        -Samples described
               -Polyster
               -Lightweight
                      -New York

Color selection

Weight of fabrics
      -President’s opinion
      -Forthcoming People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
              -Weather
      -Forthcoming Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] trip
              -Weather
              -May 1972
      -1972 campaign

Presentation of gift to the President
       -New York
       -1972 campaign
       -President’s opinion

Selection of fabrics
        -Heavyweight
        -Lightweight
        -President’s opinion

Sport jackets
        -Selection
        -British fabric
        -President’s preference
                -Weight
                        -Light
                -Color
                        -Blue
       Slacks
                 -President’s preference

       Sport jackets
               -Lightweight
       Slacks
                 -Lightweight

       Fabrics
                 -Need by March 1, 1972
                 -Fall and summer

       Alterations
               -President’s measurements

       1972 campaign
              -Potential effect on President’s weight

       Request for President’s autograph
             -Tailor
             -Gloria Schuman
             -Dot [unknown last name]
             -Adrian Smith [?]

       Gifts
                 -Money clips
                 -For spouses

       Clothing
              -Patterns
              -Lightweight

       Souvenirs

       Train
                 -Philadelphia
                 -Airport travel

       Luggage
             -Material
                    -Vinyl

**********************************************************************

Rossi and Mangelli left at 1:13 pm.

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.

Mr. Thurston, Mr. Frederick, all my folks here.
How are you?
How are you?
Nice to see you.
Nice to see you.
I have a tight schedule.
Do you want the full-weights or light-weights?
Light-weights.
Light-weights, basically.
By full-weights, I suppose that's what I mean.
Yes.
We need things that are not too heavy.
I'm sorry that I need them for...
I have some fall things here, too.
I have some this.
They're kind of light in shape.
Well, yes, they're light in shape.
These are light weight.
These are spring and summer.
These are full, but they're light weight batteries.
And these are this.
These are spring and summer.
Yes.
These may not match.
Yes, yes.
I see.
You will get used for a wedge lighter.
I would say, I'm talking now about the first march.
Well, you know, if we run into one of the problems here, by that time I think I'll be able to take some of it because it's such a problem.
I mean, woven goods because of the knit.
It's taken over most of the fabrics.
Is that right?
Yeah.
But I think the wovens are beginning to come back because they're finding they're having problems with knits.
You prefer to row with woven?
Yes, I do, yes.
Because they have a certain amount of .
Yeah.
Oh, I don't know.
Let's see what we're going to do.
These are next here.
Yeah.
This is a .
No.
There's a lightweight net.
How heavy is it?
This is lighter, right?
Yes.
How would that be?
This is a glamor.
Oh, yes, that's very good.
I don't have very many of those.
Oh, let's see here.
These are, do you like these better?
Yes, yes, yes.
That's a very good advantage now.
And these are all light years.
I had these sent over from New York.
We searched the market, and this is what they came up with.
I think that some of these, some of these,
Is that too mighty?
I'll take that seat.
That's well done, that's right.
Yeah, that would be as good as possible.
Let me take a look.
I can't.
No, no.
Why are you scared?
These are good lights.
Yeah, I know.
Oh, you've got a great paper, don't you?
Yeah.
This is like, will you?
Yeah.
I love that.
Do you like that?
Yeah, I think this is going to be very nice.
This is going to be very nice.
That would be nice.
I want to put some light on this.
Yeah, yeah.
We're going to have to warn the Swedes about this.
I think the one you made is a little heavier in weight.
This is the lighter weight?
Yeah, this is the lighter weight.
This is not small.
Yeah.
This is heavy.
These are a little heavy.
These are heavier.
I don't want anything heavy.
Now, I've got so many heavy things.
At least, my last batch was heavy.
Yes, they were.
A little too much for...
They're fine for China, where it'd be cold, but not good for China.
China would be cold.
When I got the clothes you made before for me, they're perfectly all right.
But then when I go to Moscow, it will be very hot.
That's in May.
And the campaign period is pretty warm, I think.
It's very cold.
We're waiting on the opportunity to show you something.
Yeah, you got something.
You know, that's in the campaign.
It's 13.
Two there.
I hope you don't think.
Oh, I'm presumptuous, but when I was in New York, one of the Nittany Mill representatives came in, and he showed me a book.
It's what?
When I saw this, it was much better than any other president.
And you can probably make that stuff.
make merry with this with your friends and your party and come time for, you know, your campaign.
What do you think?
Well, I think maybe even more about some of the controversial members of your party.
That's a hit, really.
Now that's a double hit.
All right.
That's a good one.
I'll wear it sometime for a party.
Isn't that nice?
Isn't that nice?
Isn't that great?
Isn't that perfect?
Yeah.
Well, that's a very tall one.
Send that over to my truck.
Now, let's see here now.
Let's start getting down to making a step decision.
What do you think?
Now, we take those to resolution here and there.
I know you don't like those.
Yes, very much.
Now, for the doctor.
Yes, sir.
These are nice.
These are going to be very useful.
This is the one that you had before.
This is heavy.
No, no, I just showed you that.
I have a couple other heavies here, but I don't think I'm going to show them to you.
I don't know if you need them or not.
That's not a very heavy Worcester.
That's a full wing, but it's on the light side.
I think this is nice, though.
I think we ought to have it.
I think we could use that.
Yeah, I think I can use it.
But you don't have anything like this.
I've got a thing in there.
That isn't as heavy as this.
No, no.
All right.
Okay.
Now let's go.
Now we've got three of this.
Right, right.
Now we need some light.
Now let's take this.
You all right?
Well, thank you.
In terms of color, I like that.
I think I can go like this.
And that one, I think that's, this is very, this is a little bit larger, but I think it's a little, this would be a nice white.
I mean, in terms of color, it's not very, let's see, we have this one, wait a minute.
Let's see.
What was the one you were showing in the car where you were going to go?
What do you think?
This is rather nice, but, uh, or maybe it doesn't.
I really like it.
How about that?
Do you like that?
Well, that's it.
You don't like that?
I think it's heavy.
Or, I mean, I'm afraid that, uh, it will not hold hard enough.
That's all.
That's all right.
Let me check.
These are fine.
Those little birds are not supposed to be like this.
This one is just a little bit too wide.
You have three to pick from.
There's a little wider window pane.
But it's very significant.
Yes, no, I think this might be a little too big.
I think maybe this one.
Ah, this is, this is the learning.
Yeah, okay, but it's a smaller one.
Look at you, I can see it.
Ah, see, this one, I can see it.
That little bird, yeah.
Okay, there we go.
We've got all these, yeah?
Yeah.
All right.
We decided not to go over there.
Not today.
All right.
But you know, in this before, it used to look like, well, except I think it's open to a little bit much.
Are you straight?
I have a grave...
I have a grave Worcester here you might like.
We've got three already prepared.
This is a very fine cloth.
Yeah, that is nice.
That's beautiful.
What is this?
This is a whole year-round weight, but it's a light weight.
Yes, this is about this weight, perhaps.
A little lighter.
Maybe a little lighter than this.
Yeah, but not too heavy.
No.
You don't think this is too heavy for a... Well, probably for the topics for a warm climate.
Now, let's see, we've got three.
Four there?
Yes, there are four there.
Two of these are lightweight.
No, they're like medium weight.
And one is a lightweight.
One is a lightweight.
I think those are all.
Oh, here it is.
Yeah.
Okay.
How many have you got there?
Four.
But you need these.
These are the ones that count for the light ones.
Those are lightweight.
Yeah.
Now, what do you, what do you say to these?
Do you like all these?
Do you like them nice?
You could much as do without this.
Well, what?
With this.
Yeah.
The difficulty is that I need, for light, I need a couple of dark things.
I've got a lot of dark stuff over there already.
And see, some of those are dark.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But I think these are both dark.
This one?
This one.
I think that's it.
How do you like that?
You've got a nice, good variation.
You've got a fine.
I wonder...
I think it's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
It's a good variation.
Well, I'll tell you, I'm sure you're going to like that.
They are all pretty useful.
Those last two you made were just beautiful.
What is this?
That's a nice, lightweight hat.
Beautiful, beautiful thing.
When they go down south, they might blow a little bit.
I haven't blown.
This is...
Do you have anything else in the Sport Jacket?
Yeah.
I'll take one more.
I always want to get two Sport Jackets.
Do you want a knit?
Well, knits are good for Sport Jackets, aren't they?
Yes.
They're pretty heavy.
No.
They feel heavy at the bottom, but when you get them on, they're not.
Does that coat feel heavy on you?
I think it's a sport jacket.
That's about the same weight.
This one?
Or what else would you suggest?
I wish that would be number one.
I like that.
Well, this is it.
Oh, we're going to take this away.
Right.
This is the connection, all right?
I was just thinking one more and a sport jacket signed.
Do you have any other?
Do I have a choice?
Do you have any other?
Is that sport?
Yes.
There it is.
From this, he doesn't bother you with that.
You want to wear it?
Let him do it.
All right.
Here's a British fabric.
You don't have too many colors of all the years, do you?
It's like a nice town here.
No, I'm set there.
I've got to figure it out.
I need something a little more on the light side, personally.
How are you?
We've got all this fun stuff around here.
So, I think you'll care about this for a check today.
Why?
Something in the blue room.
I'm afraid that's a little too...
This one is very good.
Oh, that's nice.
Now, could you, could we have a couple slats to coat those?
We need a slat.
I like those slats the way you make them.
Mainly the slats, be sure that they are not sketchy, you know.
Oh, yes.
Sort of smooth, soft kind of, uh, not too heavy.
Oh, but you know how much paper slats you have.
Oh, yes, the massive coats.
Oh, here they are.
Now, those are beautiful.
Now, that's a very clear picture of this.
But we could, uh, we could match it in, or we could point it against.
Do you want to watch the news?
Do you want to play it with me?
I like the lighter weight drinks.
We can then make a couple of light weight slaps.
It will go great.
All right.
Now it's just written, right?
Just written.
Just written.
These are all here.
Oh, this is wonderful.
Here's the gun.
It's all out.
As I say, I like this.
Everything could happen, but the first of March or something like that.
What will happen, wait until then.
Right.
Did you know what it was there?
No, it was a car.
Oh, it was a car.
Did you know what it was?
Did you know what it was?
Did we pay this?
Yes, yes.
This is the last floor.
This is the last floor.
This is not the stretch.
This is the right entrance.
Now we're taking that first floor.
We're taking that first floor.
We're taking that first floor.
Well, I, as a matter of fact, this will be actually the last time I'm going to get anything to the Polo Center, too, this time.
I'm sure it will be.
So I'm trying not to make it easy for the fall, as well as the summer.
Oh, good.
Then you should have enough.
Oh, Bob, yes, I have enough.
Oh, I did take a lot of other good stuff.
I didn't get too much.
I think that my waste, the last group,
You could let out about a quarter inch.
It's a little bit too tight.
Really?
It's tense, but I like it.
Just a little loose.
I see.
So, I mean, why don't you look at the coat?
Yes, it's one of the little ones.
So, you see how it fits.
See what you did.
Yeah, well, it has the right weapons.
I know that better than you.
Why don't you try the waist?
And as I say, linky, there's a little...
So it makes it maybe half-inch more of a waist.
And that's particularly in slacks.
Okay.
36 1⁄2.
36 1⁄2.
Well, compared to the 37 or 36 1⁄2 or...
Not too loose, though.
36.34.
So let's compromise, and then we'll check with our records.
Right.
Whatever you did previously, we had a quarter of an inch.
The seat's all right.
Oh, the seat's fine.
We finally got the length.
Yeah, we know the length is just right.
Just right.
Straight.
See, my weight varies between three and four pounds, and I'm just a little bit better than just a little too tight.
I think maybe next year you might lose a big balance, but I know the way you campaign.
36.
You don't stop.
36.
Yeah, that's right.
36 to 34.
I'm sorry, but I hear wonderful comments.
I'm sorry you can't hear my own.
I've got people working for you already.
Would you mind signing two for me?
This is not mine.
This is one of our men's.
I said, I don't know if that's the proper word for it.
And I think you may know this person.
Gloria Schumann, I think her name is.
She may be an alteration.
Oh, yes.
I get it.
Oh.
Wait a minute.
It says to God.
I think that was to God and Hades.
Should I say to Gloria?
No, to God and Hades, I guess.
To God and Hades.
Yeah, it was made by God and Hades.
Should I say to God and Hades?
Yes.
I would appreciate that.
Yeah, it is.
And also,
He's one of the friends.
He's one of the boys that works downstairs.
He always takes care of getting everything ready to go, I suppose, as well.
Sure.
Thank you.
My God.
Five dollars.
He is.
Thank you.
You do get a contact for your voice before.
Right.
Right.
Right.
I'm wondering if they have enough clothing.
Oh, God, yes.
That's because he's the one who looked at that.
I think it's all right.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Great collection.
Okay, if you find that you don't, I have a pretty good...
I'll leave these here because it's your selection.
Did you come on the train?
Yes.
That's the best way I guess you could go, don't you?
Yes.
How'd you get to the airport?
I did one time because they had an accident on the rails and came by the plane.
Holds a lot of stuff.
Yeah, I'll get him on the other side.
I'll put him inside.
It's amazing how this little thing can carry so much stuff.
Amazing.
That's a very nice bag.
It is.
It's flexible.
I like that better.
Oh, it's wonderful.
Yeah, that's a beautiful bag.
I think you can go out traveling.
Have you had it for a long time?
Yes, I guess about four.
It must be a fine leather.
I think it's more fine.
Well, it is.
Whatever it is, it's better than leather.
Yes, it is.
It's flexible.
And it takes a beating also.
Really?
Is there some stuff in there?
I'm leaving that with you now.
Oh, yeah.
I thought I'd know.
Oh, that's 14.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.