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Conversation 708-003

TapeTape 708StartThursday, April 13, 1972 at 4:28 PMEndThursday, April 13, 1972 at 4:31 PMTape start time00:21:45Tape end time00:25:03ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Hess, Stephen;  Hess, Elena (Shayne);  Hess, Charles P.;  Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.;  Bull, Stephen B.;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AudioNARA Description

On April 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen Hess, Elena (Shayne) Hess, Charles P. Hess, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:28 pm to 4:31 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 708-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 708-3

Date: April 13, 1972
Time: 4:28 pm - 4:31 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen Hess, Elena (Shayne) Hess, Charles P. Hess, James R. Hess and
Kenneth R. Cole, Jr; Stephen B. Bull and the White House photographer were present at the
beginning of the meeting.

       Greetings

       Photographs
            -Family
            -Arrangements

       Presidential gifts
             -Apollo viewer
             -Money clip
             -Compact

       Biography of the President
            -Charles P. Hess
                  -Age

       Hess children
            -Favorite school subjects
                   -The President

       Dwarf tree
            -People's Republic of China [PRC]
            -Age
            -Size

       Travel
            -Future
                  -PRC, the Moon and the Soviet Union
            -Value
            -Age factor
                  -Money

       Hess children
            -Sidwell Friends School
            -School subjects
                   -The President's daughters

Hess et al left at 4:31 pm.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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've got to have it anyway.
Thank you.
You stand, or either of you on one side or the other side, each boy.
That's how that sounds.
That's a great thing to have, to give the grandmothers and mothers that.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
We want to give you a little something, too.
We have, what do we have here?
Oh, it's all pure.
I said, you know, if I'm going to get shot or something, this is one of those jiggers that you do.
This is the money, but that's very expensive.
Very expensive.
You already have much of it in front.
I tell you, we have a second generation Nixon biographer, Charles.
He's a writer.
He's just written a biography of you, Mr. President, but I don't think it's ready for public display.
I'll argue.
I'll argue.
I'll argue.
I'll argue.
I don't know.
That's a good answer.
This one, I showed it, and I showed it to other people in here, taking charge of this in China.
And that tree is 22 meters old.
That's one of those dwarf trees that never gets any bigger.
It'll grow up and get straight like that.
But one day, you see, because of what we've done, we, at least we started, you'll be able to do it.
Want to do it with me?
Or even the moon.
Twitter.
I don't know.
Channel specials.
Or Russians.
I travel a lot, every time you can't find me.
Sometimes you get old enough and you get through school, you can necessarily borrow money and trust.
I'll tell you why.
When you get too old, you've got enough money, and you get too old, you're too old to enjoy it.
I see old people, you know, walking around in jeans and dresses, coming off of the tourist ships.
They save their money all their lives to take a trip, and they're too old to enjoy it.
So when you're young, borrow the money in the bank to take a trip.
Oh, they've got to be smart to go there.
Remember my girl.
New man, new sign.
Right.
Right.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
All right.
Is he laughing?
Oh, no, no.
I wanted to, just before I leave, I want to clear one other thing of mine this evening, because it's over.
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