Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 670 › Conversation 670-012

Nixon & Woods on People's Republic of China and William P. Rogers

Monday, February 14, 1972 · 12:58 PM–1:02 PM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary; [Unknown person(s)]Conversation670-012 on Tape 670 (tape position 02:17:13–02:22:46)StartMonday, February 14, 1972 at 12:58 PMEndMonday, February 14, 1972 at 1:02 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 670-012 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417180793 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods discussed preparations for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on wardrobe choices and official gifts. The President expressed a clear preference against wearing hats during the visit, despite inquiries from Secretary of State William P. Rogers. Additionally, the group reviewed logistics regarding portrait signatures and the distribution of watches as diplomatic gifts.

Audio

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NARA Description

On February 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:58 pm to 1:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 670-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 670-12

Date: February 14, 1972
Time: 12:58 pm - 1:02 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods and an unknown person.

     Woods
         -Talk with Richard Rogers

     Refreshments
          -Served at White House dinner

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 1:02 pm.

     Portraits
           -Signatures
             -Selection by the President
                  -Older ones compared to newer ones
                  -Possible choices
             -Orders
                  -Staff

     Gifts                                                   Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)
             -Watches

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/19/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[670-012-w001]
[Duration: 1m 9s]

     The President’s clothing
          -People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
               -William P. Rogers [?]
                      -Hat
               -Coat
               -Hat
                      -The President’s opinion

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

Woods left at 1:02 pm.

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.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Well, I just want to ask you, if you'll hear me.
I don't want you to mind.
If you want to, please do come.
We're over there.
That's what I understand.
Goddamn, that isn't the one I tested once at all.
I told you it is.
That's all that I want to ask.
That is one of the most recent.
I don't get a sense, but I don't know.
Because I have to know.
We don't have that.
We don't have that.
We don't have that.
We don't have that.
We don't have that.
Oh, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I,
I'll find out when we come.
Did the fellows find their watches?
They were just... Did you do the ring?
I'm not sure they did though.
Oh, yeah.
I'll check the stuff.
Bill Rogers did ask me one question.
You're not going to take a hat other than the one for the wall?
Or is it a flat hat?
I will probably take another top coat.
Well, you're going to go out there
That's the only thing you need to have.
I'm not going to go running around China with my little silly hat on my head.
Because I don't need it, you know, and I don't like hats.
So I'm just going to go with it.
Okay, well, that's what he thought.
But he's probably sure he did what he had to do.
I hope so.

Also recorded on February 14, 1972

  • 670-008 10:59 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:59 am to 11:04 am.
  • 670-009 11:04 AM · 1 min — Manolo Sanchez, United States Secret Service agents, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:04 am and 12:49 pm.
  • 670-010 11:04 AM · 20 sec — Stephen B. Bull, Henry A. Kissinger, and President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:04 am and 12:49 pm.
  • 670-011 12:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jaime Arguelles, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:49 pm to 12:52 pm.
  • 670-013 1:04 PM · 1 hr 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:04 pm to 2:25 pm.
  • 670-014 2:25 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:25 pm and 2:48 pm.
  • 670-015 2:25 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:25 pm and 2:48 pm.
  • 670-016 2:48 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:48 pm to 3:04 pm.

All 33 conversations from February 14, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 670-012, February 14, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417180793). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/670-012 (accessed November 2, 2026).