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Conversation 699-004

TapeTape 699StartFriday, March 31, 1972 at 11:42 AMEndFriday, March 31, 1972 at 11:59 AMTape start time01:29:56Tape end time01:48:37ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.;  Bland, Richard E.;  McClennan, W. Howard;  Amabali, Louis;  Arevala, Tommy (Lt.);  Bugbee, Perce;  Duke, Dorothy S.;  Eckert, Ernst R. G.;  Freeman, Roger M.;  Hechtman, Robert;  Hole, Albert E.;  Hurley, John F.;  Jablonsky, John L.;  Klinger, Keith E.;  Phillips, Anne W. (Dr.);  Proven, John A.;  Whitaker, Baron;  Young, William J.;  Tipton, Howard D.;  Willis, Clayton;  Bell, George T.;  Casey, James;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and members of a fire prevention commission to receive a status report on their activities and efforts to reduce fire-related injuries and costs. During the session, which included a formal photo opportunity and the presentation of gifts, the commission members advocated for national attention to fire safety, specifically proposing that the White House hold a fire drill. The President accepted this proposal, directing that a fire drill be organized for the Executive Residence and offices to highlight the importance of fire safety protocols.

Fire preventionWhite House fire safetyPublic relationsCommission on Fire Prevention and ControlPresidential scheduling
AudioNARA Description

On March 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Richard E. Bland, W. Howard McClennan, Louis Amabali, Lt. Tommy Arevala, Perce Bugbee, Dorothy S. Duke, Ernst R. G. Eckert, Roger M. Freeman, Robert Hechtman, Albert E. Hole, John F. Hurley, John L. Jablonsky, Keith E. Klinger, Dr. Anne W. Phillips, John A. Proven, Baron Whitaker, William J. Young, Howard D. Tipton, Clayton Willis, George T. Bell, James Casey, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:42 am to 11:59 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 699-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 699-4

Date: March 31, 1972
Time: 11:42 am - 11:59 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     Arrangements for photograph

The Presidents left at an unknown time after 11:42 am.

Bull met with Richard E. Bland, W. Howard McClennan, Louis Amabali [?], Lt. Tommy
Arevala, Perce Bugbee, Dorothy S. Duke, Ernst R. G. Eckert, Roger M. Freeman, Jr., Robert
Hechtman, Albert E. Hole, John F. Hurley, John L. Jablonsky, Keith E. Klinger, Dr. Anne W.
Phillips, John A. Proven, Baron Whitaker, William J. Young, Howard D. Tipton, Clayton Willis,
George T. Bell, and James Casey;members of the press and the White House photographer were
present at the beginning of the meeting.

     The President’s schedule
          -Telephone call

     Greetings

     Press photograph
           -Lining up
                -Two rows
           -Firemen
           -Organization

The President entered at an unknown time after 11:42 am.

     Introductions

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:59 am.

     [Photograph session]
          -General conversation
               -The President’s 1953 trip to Singapore

     Presentation of the report
          -Casualties
          -Cost of fire damage per annum
          -Commission members
                -San Clemente
                -Doctor
                      -Anne W. Phillips
                            -Massachusetts General Hospital

     Presentation of gifts
          -Cufflinks
          -Bows

     White House fire drill
          -Fire prevention week
                -National attention
                -Importance
                -Residence
                -Offices
          -Aid in reduction of fire injury
          -Fire drill on ships
          -White House
                -Age
                -Fireplaces

     Bell
            -Appreciation

Introductions
      -Unknown man
           -Friend of the President

            -Ohio
                  -Vinton County
                       -Frank Nixon
            -New York
            -San Clemente
                  -Forest fires
            -Paul Miller
            -Hackes
                  -Possible participation in the President’s trip to Soviet Union while Vice-
President

     General conversation
         -Richard B. Ogilvie
         -Minnesota
         -California
               -Trees
                     -Forest fires
         -Reston, Virginia
         -North Carolina
               -North Carolina State University
               -Duke University
         -Dr. Phillips
               -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
               -Gifts
         -New Hampshire
               -Margaret Chase Smith
               -Norris Cotton

     Rhode Island
         John H. Chafee

     The President’s trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]

     Connecticut
          -Re-election of the President
          -Thomas J. Meskill
          -J. William Middendorf
          -Lang [surname unknown]
                -Wife
     Tipton’s experience playing football
          -George E. Allen
          -University of Redlands

             -Whittier College
             -Harry Tipton
                  -Duke
             Golf

Bland et al. left at 11:59 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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.

You're gonna buy them up.
Yes, sir.
I'll put it right across the internet.
President had to take one point back.
If you could all step in this way, and if you could just stand to the side for a moment so we can get forward.
Two rows here, please.
Right along here.
I think we can do it in two rows.
Have I seen everyone else?
I'll get everybody out.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President,
I think that's what we all want and we want to do it all, but we haven't made all that progress in 20 years.
But you call us when you call, and we'll bottle it up for you.
Well, you've done a very fine job.
I tell you, most of the rest of the state, most of the state, most of the state.
We thought it would be appropriate, sir, if we reported to you what our activities have been.
If you find that, you can remind us right away.
I think that's a fair status report of where we are and where we're going.
You were appointed in what year?
I was appointed last year.
Last year, but I can't remember.
1968.
1968.
Yeah, yeah, close to that.
You've been in about five, seven months.
But you, Mr. President, are the man that appointed me.
That's the most important thing.
I don't know how you guys got a choice.
Where you found all these people is a puzzle.
I appreciate what you've done.
I appreciate what you've done.
We do appreciate what you've done.
We'll cut down the cash.
Three million dollars worth of funds this year.
Fifteen tons.
All right.
Good.
How many times?
3,000, 3,000, 2,000, 1,000 every year.
Well, I certainly would appreciate this.
Well, it's a great sport, an honor, a privilege.
I think your timing is great.
You've got to get a cohesiveness pretty much every time.
We have people from all over the country.
I'm not from the fire department.
Oh, there you are.
This is an excellent balance of people in the fire service plus people of Dr. Phillips and me.
Dr. Phillips is the first woman to have operated in Massachusetts General Hospital.
So we're very proud to have her with us.
She brings a black bag.
What?
A black bag?
Yeah, she's got a connotation.
I am?
Sorry, sir, I'm not going to apologize.
I'm going to say it.
I'd like to present each of you, as these members of the commission, we always give you a little badge.
This is the presidential seal, as you notice in the seal in here, and here is the covenant, so all of you that are present for the covenant, we'll hand this out to you.
And, uh, for the ladies, of course, she owns our conference, and we've got the same thing sealed to the foe.
So now we have something for the ladies.
We've got any longer fire hose.
Certainly we'll appreciate your work.
Mr. President, is the only rare...
Would you entertain the thought the next year of having a finance fire drill?
Why would we do that?
Just to emphasize, to underline the problem and get national attention.
Try to get people who have exit rules in their homes.
Is it important?
Yes, sir.
And where it's been done, where it's been tried, it's worked.
It's reduced the virus.
It has reduced the virus.
Possibly.
Possibly.
I would say it's true.
If it's set at a time, that's what I think.
If you have it at the residence or to the office, don't worry.
It was too cold that time of year.
All right, will you follow up on this?
Mr. President, I believe in non-pharmacists.
Peter, that's right.
You can see.
We've got a little swamp by the side to use your firefighters.
We're saying, we're out here, we don't know anything about this.
And I think we kind of have an unusual road.
And when you talk about it, it's important.
It's important to the United States.
It's important to us.
Well, of course, you always remember on shipboard they always had fire drills, because so many ships... Well, if you have a fire in a ship, it's not safe.
A house shouldn't have this often, but just a drill would make a difference.
Most people think it's all right.
It was all the kinds of new kinds of turtles there, and yet you can have pretty good fires.
This is an old house, too.
Yes, I think so.
with many fireplaces, so we have possibilities.
All right, we'll do it.
The other possibility would be to, you know, find this place.
Yes, he works with all of these.
Well, let me shake hands with all of you to make sure.
Thank you.
I'm okay with volunteers.
I'm okay with volunteers.
I'm okay with volunteers.
Yeah, from Ohio.
Thank you.
We're glad to have you here.
We're glad to have you here.
We're glad to have you here.
We're glad to have you here.
Yeah, she's going to do it.
I can't be out there at this time, but she's going to do it.
Oh, God.
All right.
Well, of course.
Of course.
Oh, yes.
It's good to see you again.
It's good to see you again.
Yes, I'm old.
I'm not old.
I'm not old.
I'm not old.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Thank you very much.
My wife told me this morning that I shouldn't be here because you wrote her a letter in the last campaign day.
Well, that's wrong.
I'll give you regards to the mayor.
He has other problems.
One thing about him, he does support, you know, police, fire, police.
He's fucking all of your life on that.
Take us around the corner and see.
Yeah, get in my bed.
See you later.
Thanks, sir.
Talk to you later.
Good to see you.
I'm Bob Eklund from Reston, Virginia.
I'm not in West Virginia.
I'm probably in Northwest Washington.
Washington.
Oh, yes.
They're both in the States.
Thank you, Director.
It's good to have you here.
I'm very pleased to have you here.
I'm very pleased to have you here.
What about, uh, Darryl?
Darryl?
Yes, I know.
My brother has a master's in marketing on the state of Maryland.
And, uh, the school's coming out here again.
It's a fine school.
I think it's a good one.
It's a master's in geology.
I think it's a good one.
I think it's a good one.
I think it's a good one.
Good to see you.
Thank you.
Don't get those rings too high.
Yes, of course.
Very nice.
Oh, of course.
Well, I'm so glad to see you.
I like listening.
That's right.
That's right.
Thank you.
Thank you.
You did well.
Thank you very much.
Well, it didn't work.
She did right.
We managed.
Oh, I think I did.
I always did.
I did that.
In fact, that's kind of nice.
You start close to me.
Yeah.
Mark.
Mark Scott.
Yes.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Mark Scott.
Yes, and he's got to be down here in the center.
I hope so, too.
I hope so, too.
He's a great father.
He ought to be in the center, you know.
That is no reflection on the performance that I did.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, uh, are you with the state of Connecticut or, uh, Congress?
I'm with Congress.
I'm with Congress.
I'm with Congress.
I'm with Congress.
And I think Mexico's doing a good job.
He's a tough guy, you know.
He's a tough guy.
He's a tough guy.
He's a tough guy.
He's a tough guy.
He's a tough guy.
He's a tough guy.
He's a tough guy.
He's just really great.
Well, we appreciate your support.
Thank you, Mr. President.
And your mother.
Marvelous little town, Boyle.
Did you?
Were you a team for me in the quarterback?
Well, what year were you?
56, 57, 58.
But Reckless and Boyle were great rivals, good friendly rivals.
That's a fine school as well.
I was thinking, you know, there was a great Duke football player.
Eric Dixon.
Eric Dixon.
Oh, yes.
Oh, of course that's right.
I remember him.
Sure.
But how did Eric Dixon?
Your dad, of course, you know.
You're probably a golfer.
You a golfer?
You a golfer?
You probably are.
Thank you very much.
We wish you the best.
Appreciate your help.
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