President Nixon hosted a group of students and their teacher in the Oval Office to celebrate his birthday and engage in an informal, educational visit. During the meeting, the attendees recited poems, presented gifts to the President, and participated in a photo session. Nixon discussed his upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the importance of international relations for the younger generation, and concluded by distributing souvenir pens to the students.
On January 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Arthene Cevey, Andrey Pontier, Karl Wunderlich, Peter Yu, Michael Slattery, Billy McNight, Richard Buck, Stephen Bazo, James Toomey, Russell Burke, Brian Clark, Phillip Beauregard, Pete Wyrough, Brooks Ross, Robert Jones, Brian Bunce, John Sharood, Peter McMahon, Francois VanDerMenbrugge, Christopher Cook, White House photographer, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:03 pm to 1:19 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 647-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 647-14
Date: January 13, 1972
Time: 1:03 pm - 1:19 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Arthene Cevey, Audrey Pontier, Karl Wunderlich, Peter Yu, Michael
Slattery, Billy McNight, Stephen Bazo, Richard Buck, James Toomey, Russell Burke, Brian
Clark, Philip Beauregard, Pete Wyrough, Brooks Ross, Robert Jones, Brian Bunce, John
Sharood, Peter McMahon, Francois Van der Mensbrugge, and Christoper Cook at 1:17 pm; the
White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Introduction
-Teacher
-Years spent in teaching profession
The President's childhood
-Mother, Hannah Nixon
Introductions
Poems
Photograph session
-Arrangements
The President's birthday
Poems
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-The President's poem to sick brother
Students
-Future plans
-Writers, journalists
-President
Press
Poem recitation
Washington Post
Poem recitation
Birthday cake
Student's interests
The President's forthcoming trip to the People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Effect on the world
-Unknown teacher
-Airplane flight
Presentation of gifts
-Pens
-Bill signing usage
Oval Office
-Presidential seal
-Floor and ceiling
-Gift
-Bowpin
Portrait of George Washington by Rembrandt Peale
Steuben glass
-“Star of the President”
The President's grade school years
-Fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Zimmerman
-Geography
Pontier, et al., except Cevey left and Ronald L. Ziegler and Stephen B. Bull entered at 1:17 pm.
Birthday card
The President's birthday present
-Compact
Cevey and Bull left at 1:18 pm.
The President's meeting with Edwin M. (“Jiggs”) Fauver
-Length of meeting
-Fauver's duties
-White House Telegraph and Travel Office
-John Fauver
-Photographs
-Press
-Ray M. Zook
The President’s recent meeting with school children
Ziegler left at 1:19 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.