Nixon White House TapesTape 720 › Conversation 720-012

Nixon, Rockefeller & Olivarez on Population control and Abortion

Friday, May 5, 1972 · 12:19 PM–12:32 PM ET · Oval Office

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rockefeller, John D., III;  Olivarez, Grace;  Ramsey, Christian N., Jr. (Dr.);  Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.;  Waldeman, Raymond J.;  White House photographerConversation720-012 onTape 720 (tape position 02:06:23–02:18:27)StartFriday, May 5, 1972 at 12:19 PMEndFriday, May 5, 1972 at 12:32 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 720-012 ↗

President Nixon met with John D. Rockefeller III and members of the Commission on Population Growth and the American Future to discuss the commission's work and the administration's stance on population policy. While acknowledging shared goals, Nixon highlighted his fundamental disagreement with the commission regarding the sensitive issue of abortion. The participants agreed to establish a follow-up citizens' committee, involving figures such as Daniel P. Moynihan, to continue the commission's efforts and provide a report to the President by the end of the year.

  • Commission on Population Growth and the American Future
  • Population control
  • Abortion
  • Public policy
  • Daniel P. Moynihan

Download MP3 (part 1) · 168.2 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 145.3 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 02:06:23 into the tape and ends around 02:18:27.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 · Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.

2:06:36Now, let's see, we've got a little gimmick for you here.
2:06:40See, you've got a pair of cups on your shoulders.
2:06:43That's your tie.
2:06:44I mean, you've got to wear a tie.
2:06:46And these are the bows for each of you.
2:06:47Oh, I'm sorry.
2:06:48That's right.
2:06:49You have one already.
2:06:50You can give it to a friend.
2:06:57That's the seal.
2:06:58There's the seal.
2:06:59There's the seal.
2:07:00There's always a way to stop it.
2:07:03That's right.
2:07:04So there it is.
2:07:05That's the seal.
2:07:06So that's your badge being in the White House.
2:07:12Thank you.
2:07:12We wish you the best.
2:07:13We appreciate it all along.
2:07:15I was going to release it.
2:07:27Get everybody back on the stuff.
2:07:29I mean, you know, they're going to start chatting.
2:07:33Thank you.
2:07:35Thank you very much.
2:07:38Goodbye.
2:07:40Okay, so it's time to make sure we chill for five minutes.
2:07:45John Rockefeller and that group of people are going to meet soon, so a little bit longer.
2:08:11Okay, I'll just let it be, I'll set it up.
2:08:52How are you?
2:08:52Good to see you.
2:08:53I just had a meeting with your brother.
2:08:54So now we have this room.
2:08:55Yes, how are you?
2:08:56How are you?
2:08:56Why don't we have a quick picture first and then we'll sit down and have a chat.
2:08:58Over here, let's see.
2:08:59You and your dad have to go in here and do the other stuff.
2:09:01How's that?
2:09:24Here's one.
2:09:25All you have to do is show us your face.
2:09:27He said, here.
2:09:28And shoot a picture of our city, too.
2:09:29We're going to need copies of these.
2:09:31So you can prove to me that we're talking to each other.
2:09:56I don't speak for the first time, but I'm sure you do.
2:10:01It's good.
2:10:02You're talking about his new friend, Father Hester.
2:10:04Oh, yes, yes.
2:10:05He's a very tall man.
2:10:05Aren't you, then?
2:10:09Yeah.
2:10:09I often tell him, back in the days, I spoke to him.
2:10:15Father Hester and Father Joyce, who is a successor there, too.
2:10:18My, my, my.
2:10:23You have finished your work.
2:10:24Let me say, I had a...
2:10:25I want you to be sure to tell Mrs. Chandler that you're talking to me, because she was here with the end of this, and she said, I want you to be sure that...
2:10:39I want you to be sure that...
2:10:50the important
2:11:13I think that you were all already aware of this.
2:11:18As you know, he started this with the message.
2:11:21It was the first time the president had read this bullet.
2:11:27And it's written in that.
2:11:27It was a pretty good message, actually.
2:11:29I've got to give one hand.
2:11:31What's the credit for it?
2:11:32He did a lot of writing.
2:11:34Pat, my hand.
2:11:35Is that right?
2:11:35Yes, sir.
2:11:36Pat did the work.
2:11:36And that was his major trust.
2:11:38He just felt so strongly on this subject.
2:11:42And we're working on the, having started, there's one area that is, as you know, extremely delicate and sensitive.
2:11:51Where, like, I have taken a position which will differ from the commission's recommendation, and that is in the portion area.
2:12:00But this is a matter which, of course, everybody will understand.
2:12:06I mean, because you'll have within your own commission,
2:12:13The main trust should be that as far as the goal is concerned, the goal of getting a, that I set forth in that message to the Congress, the population commission and the administration are working toward the same goal.
2:12:29We may have some disagreement about means.
2:12:35And of course, we're about to take this senator to the budget, the mayor to the budget, and all the rest, and get the AGW and all the other agencies to give their comments.
2:12:59Congress will take it from here to me.
2:12:59It's not an ad.
2:13:00Everybody says what you do.
2:13:00Of course, of course, it should be done.
2:13:01I can't help you to do it.
2:13:02But do grab a little bit of what you have presented and what you have done will certainly affect the course of history and the future of this country.
2:13:06And that should make service on the commission worthwhile.
2:13:27And as Secretary Richardson pointed out, it's the first time the problem's been approached so broadly in terms of government, in terms of the economy, in terms of resources and pollution, in terms of distribution.
2:13:39Did you go over to the international situation?
2:13:48Not at all, really.
2:13:51You stayed out of that?
2:13:51That's right.
2:13:52I didn't.
2:13:52We made that.
2:13:53I know you were interested in that problem.
2:13:59The fact that we have a policy that we're trying maybe in some ways to implement.
2:14:16You see, you look at some of the terrible law that's facing.
2:14:28if they would ever break into the center of the country.
2:14:34There are volunteers in the center of the country for hours as close as the coast, I mean, the west coast.
2:14:44But basically, the way it's running, congesting these great cities, Rio, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, et cetera, et cetera,
2:14:59Africa is not particularly problematic because it's big and it has lots of rules over the future.
2:15:06But when you look at India, when you look at China, when you look at, well, of course, the Japanese, you don't worry about that.
2:15:15They're going to handle it.
2:15:16They are going to handle it.
2:15:17And the Chinese are worried about theirs.
2:15:20India may be desirable.
2:15:21It may be desirable because of its enormous political power.
2:15:23While this has got to be in the leadership, we're all working on it.
2:15:25The Pakistanis, of course, are working on it.
2:15:34They get more and more aid, and they get poorer and poorer.
2:15:38But Mrs. Cranston, Mrs. Gandhi never speaks about it in her speeches.
2:15:42It's really amazing.
2:15:44She won't tackle it, huh?
2:15:45No, she believes in it.
2:15:47Oh, I know.
2:15:49She really believes in it, but not consider it.
2:15:53Mr. Brennan, let me just say one thing.
2:15:55What we are going to do is form a citizen's committee.
2:15:59All right.
2:15:59And I was talking to Pat Moynihan.
2:16:03Bill Graver, if you will.
2:16:04But Pat Moynihan has agreed to take an active part.
2:16:08And we talked with Mr. Berlichman, and we'll be in touch with Mr. Richardson, who sits on the left, too.
2:16:23And I thought we'd be sure that we would work on this in the months ahead, and then maybe at the end of the year, you'd let us come back.
2:16:30I will.
2:16:31And maybe have it part of your second term program.
2:16:35And there's been more time to do that.
2:16:39You'll have a citizens' commission.
2:16:41You'll continue your work.
2:16:44Exactly.
2:16:44To do follow-up.
2:16:45Be sure to be at the west coast of Georgia.
2:16:49Now, this commission was very representative of almost everything.
2:16:54Now, I think that commission was very well balanced.
2:17:14And let me say, I honestly think that the younger members under 30 and minority members made a very real contribution to it.
2:17:21It's a different report because of our being there.
2:17:24It's good that you brought them in.
2:17:25I mean, the participation, I mean, actually, the minority members have to participate because it has to do a great deal with all of them.
2:17:34That's right.
2:17:35And, you know, it's very tough.
2:17:42grapple with those folks, because they're part of her establishment.
2:17:46But here, you're bringing minority members in.
2:17:48They face some of those problems that they have to deal with.
2:17:53And the younger members, of course, won't have much of a problem selling that.
2:17:59Well, they will, right?
2:18:00They will, perhaps.
2:18:01That's right.
2:18:02Because they think, why can't it be done quicker?
2:18:07But we do want to thank you for your leadership on this, and that message particularly, and thank you for bringing us into being.
2:18:14It's been a privilege to do this for you and with you.
2:18:17Right, right.
2:18:18You've been amazing to us after increasing public donations.
2:18:22And we will hope then to maybe see you at the end of the year.
2:18:27At the end of the year, I'd like to see another report on this.
2:18:31Can you follow?
2:18:32Yes, sir, I will.
2:18:33And we'll keep you working on it.
2:18:39And also, Mr. Richardson, who I .
2:18:41First class man.
2:18:42First class man.
2:18:43We've got a lot of them.
2:18:45But he's got so many things on his mind.
2:18:48All these things.

On May 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Rockefeller, III, Grace Olivarez, Dr. Christian N. Ramsey, Jr., Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Raymond J. Waldeman, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:19 pm to 12:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 720-012 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 720-12

Date: May 5, 1972
Time: 12:19 pm - 12:32 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John D. Rockefeller III, Grace Olivarez, Dr. Christian N. Ramsey, Jr.,
Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and Raymond J. Waldmann; the White House photographer was present at
the beginning of the meeting.

     Greetings
          -Rockefeller
          -Nelson A. Rockefeller
          -Olivarez
          -Ramsey

     Photographs
          -Arrangements
          -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
          -Arrangements

     Father Theodore S. Hesburgh and Father Edmund Patrick Joyce
          -President's acquaintance

                                (rev. Jan-02)
Commission on Population
   -Dorothy Buffum Chandler
         -Discussion with the President on population problems
               -Rockefeller's commission [Commission on Population Growth and the
                     American Future]
   -Beginning
         -President's population message to Congress
               -Daniel P. Moynihan
   -Abortion issue
         -Sensitivity
         -Differences between commission and the President
   -President's message
         -Goals
               -Means
                     -Bureau of the Budget
                     -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
   -Report
         -Service of commission
         -Abortion issue
               -Handling
   -Population problem
         -Scope
               -Elliot L. Richardson
         -Legislation
         -Latin America
               -Urban areas
                     -Rio De Janeiro
                     -Sao Paolo
                     -Buenos Aires
         -Africa
         -India
         -People's Republic of China [PRC]
         -Japan
         -PRC
         -India
               -Difficulties
                     -Political leadership
                     -Indira Gandhi
                           -Studies
                           -Speeches
         -Citizens committees
               -Moynihan's role
               -Bill Draper

                                            (rev. Jan-02)
                                -Dwight D. Eisenhower administration
                          -John D. Ehrlichman
                          -Richardson
              -Recommendations
                    -Citizens committees
                          -Representation
                                -West Coast
                                      -Chandler
                                -Nationwide
                                      -Youth and minority representatives
              -Population problem
                    -Gandhi's problems
                    -US problems
                          -Minority and younger members
              -President's leadership
              -Reports
                    -Follow-up report
                    -Work with Cole, Ehrlichman
                    -Richardson
                          -The President’s view

      Gifts
              -Cuff links

      Walter H. Annenberg gift
           -Steuben piece [“Star of the President”]

      Gifts
              -Bow

      Commission
         -Work
               -President's appreciation

      Doctors, lawyers

Rockefeller, et al., left at 12:32 pm.
  • 720-008 12:09 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Delbert L. Latta, Delbert Springer, John E. Nidecker, Jill Springer, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:09 pm to 12:15 pm.
  • 720-009 12:15 PM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:16 pm.
  • 720-010 12:16 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe, Mrs. Jerome H. Jaffe, Miriam Jaffe, Celia Jaffe, Ari Jaffe, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:16 pm to 12:18 pm.
  • 720-011 12:18 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:18 pm and 12:19 pm.
  • 720-013 12:32 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:32 pm and 12:34 pm.
  • 720-014 12:32 PM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:32 pm and 12:34 pm.
  • 720-015 12:34 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:34 pm to 12:41 pm.
  • 720-016 12:41 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:41 pm and 12:43 pm.

Conversation 720-012, May 5, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/720-012 (accessed September 18, 2026).