Conversation 662-008

On February 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, David Barrus, Eric E. Hillary, Edwin R. Yarbrough, Kenneth L. Beale, Jr., David D. Chambers, David Harrington, Robert L. Larson, Jr., Stephen Larson, John T. Lyons, Kerry K. Morgan, Frank Ramirez, Jr., John J. Richie, III, Dave Snell, Millard F. Waters, Stephen Wirkes, Alden G. Barber, Norton Clapp, David Boshea, Randy Scott, Revel L. Robertson, George C. Freeman, Michael J. Farrell, Richard A. Moore, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:08 pm to 12:19 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 662-008 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 662-008

Date: February 1, 1972
Time: 12:08 pm - 12:19 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with David Barrus, Eric E. Hillary, Edwin R. Yarbrough, Kenneth L. Beale,
Jr., David D. Chambers, Dan Harrington, Robert L. Larson, Jr., Stephen Lawson, John T. Lyons,
Kerry K. Morgan, Frank Ramirez, Jr., John J. Richie III, Dave Snell, Millard F. Waters, Stephen
Wirkes, Alden G. Barber, Norton Clapp, David Boshea, Randy Scott, Rebel L. Robertson,
George C. Freeman, Michael J. Farrell, and Richard A. Moore; the White House photographer
was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Greetings
          -Photograph session

     Introductions
           -Photograph session
                -Paul (“Bear”) Bryant
                -The President’s travels

     Presentation of Boy Scout card
          -Voluntarism
          -Quality of leadership

     Boy Scouts of America [BSA] annual report to nation
          -Resources program
               -Save Our American Resources [SOAR]
          -Youth drug abuse program

                -Operation Reach
            -Membership rise
                -Percentage

     Provo, Utah

     Presentation of scouting medals
          -Norman Rockwell role
                -Boys Life magazine
                      -World War I
                -Farrell

     Boy Scouts of America [BSA]
          -Ages

     Tour of White House

     Memento presentation
        -Jamborees
        -Tie bars
              -Presidential seal

     University of Nebraska football team

     Farewells

The Boy Scouts of America, et al. left at 12:19 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

All the best, honey.
Good-bye.
Can we form a circle right here, please?
Mr. Allen, can I ask you a question?
Mr. Allen, can I ask you a question?
Mr. Allen, can I ask you a question?
Mr. Allen, can I ask you a question?
Mr. Allen, can I ask you a question?
Mr. Allen, can I ask you a question?
Oh, my God.
Thank you.
Martin, do you understand?
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Mr. President.
Mr. President.
Mr. President.
Mr. President.
That's a fair price.
Home of the cowboys.
It's probably been a couple of years.
Mr. Russell, carry one of these down the road.
All right.
Oil off the beach yet?
Mr. President, Dave Snow, in Illinois.
Hey, that's Dave Gerson's old house.
I know what you're talking about.
The best place in the world.
Mr. President, Steve Wilkins from Syracuse, New York.
Yes.
The guard.
Yes.
Mr. President, I'm Dale Waters, Colts, Oklahoma.
I am in the city of Red Beach.
I would like to say, right off the top of my head, I'm always going to be back.
I pray to you.
President James O'Shea, National Police Department, I address you.
Well, we've covered the scene now.
How do you want your picture set up here?
Mr. President, on behalf of the six million members of the Boy Scouts of America, adult and boy leaders, we would like to present this morning the membership card certifying you as the honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America.
As you know, the scouting organization is a volunteer organization and it accepts the largest extent of the quantity and the quality of the leadership, both on the unit level as the post advisors, as the scout pastors, as the den leaders, as well as many other Americans, as yourself.
Being the nation's number one scouting volunteer, you accept a great deal that encourages and inspires many of the other two million other volunteers and we look forward to having you again in 1972.
Well, thank you very much for being here tonight.
Do I have to have a stage?
I'll make a contribution.
Washington, D.C., before anything else, California.
Both, both, both.
I'm very proud of you.
Thank you very much.
Now, let me step here in the middle.
Mr. President, our federal charter requires that we make an annual report to you with the objectives and achievements of the Boy Scouts and the program.
Therefore, it is a great pleasure to give to you this report.
It's a report, and it's made by a 19-year-old life scout who's an Indian in Utah.
You'll find several significant points in here, the first one being the SOAR program,
which is our nationwide Save Our America resources program, and the initial efforts of Operation Reach, which is a program to give the youth of America the encouragement to resist drug abuse in America.
And thirdly, you'll find that our membership is up almost 21% in Exploring and in Boy Scouts.
It shows that the need provided by the Boy Scouts is being accepted by our nation's youth.
Those are great programs.
It's in your debt.
And he's in Andean water.
Yes, in Utah.
So he's involved in art.
He's been around in schools there.
Yeah, yeah.
Buck City is near me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Provo, I've been there.
Provo is his university.
Yeah, it's in Provo.
Well, thank you very much.
Now, over here.
Mr. President, the North American artist Herman Rothwell has been identified with the scouting program since his distinguished career began as an artist for Voice Life magazine before he served in World War I.
The medals that he made for the scouting movement
to pick the Scout Law.
And in appreciation for the work that you've done for the youth of America, we would like to present to you these medals that she has named the Scouting Spirit.
Oh, that's pretty.
It's beautiful.
Each one is individual.
Yes, sir.
Is it Rockwell for Asia?
Yes, sir.
It's a limited amount.
Charge funding for it.
What's your, what are the ages here in this area?
What, eight?
Sixteen.
Sixteen to twenty-one.
Sixteen to twenty-one.
That's what I thought in this group.
Sixteen to twenty-one.
Meaning?
Sixteen.
Sixteen.
You haven't had it yet?
Oh, well, it's there.
Somebody knocked it down the other day.
And he'll show you a few things that people don't normally see.
He'll figure that you won't destroy it.
He'll go through and destroy it.
Here today if you will know the market this room Here is
Right there.
So we have one of these for each.
Now that.
I just want to congratulate you all for your achievement.
I'm sure you're a sponsor.
You always find the top people here.
That's correct.
And we know that you'll continue to go to the top wherever you do it.
The main thing is, not so much to get there, just going to leave the Nebraska football team on everybody's head from number one.
You've got to trust me.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. President.
You'll have a great retirement.
Sure.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah.
We got some more back row here.
We were scouts for, you know, your work.
Okay.
Thank you.