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Conversation 725-019

TapeTape 725StartTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 10:00 AMEndTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 10:05 AMTape start time02:04:49Tape end time02:14:05ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan);  Tkach, Walter R.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, and White House physician Walter R. Tkach discussed the medical condition and potential recovery prospects of an unnamed individual facing significant spinal mobility concerns. The participants evaluated the patient's prognosis and debated whether to pursue treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or a facility in Alabama. Additionally, the President inquired about public and staff reactions to a recent, unspecified event, though the conversation remained brief as the President concluded the meeting to attend to other obligations.

Medical prognosisPat NixonWalter R. TkachWalter Reed Medical CenterPublic opinion
AudioNARA Description

On May 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, and Walter R. Tkach met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:00 am and 10:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 725-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 725-19

Date: May 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:00 am and 10:05 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Mrs. Nixon.

      [See Conversation No. 24-146; one item has been withdrawn from
       this conversation.]

The President talked with Walter R. Tkach at an unknown time.

The President talked with Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

All right, fine.
Good.
Great.
Great.
Good.
and the air force would all know that but why don't we say that we will we will uh he's apparently
The little guy thinks there's a 50% chance that he's going to lose mobility in his legs.
What do you think?
Is it breathing?
Of course, it's an ovation.
It's too bad.
Why?
Because of the mobility.
Because of the mobility, he's going to have a lot of lives in his spine.
Guess what?
I'm sorry.
Well, he'll do that the one he is.
The prospect should put it on him.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, exactly, yeah.
Captain, he should just leave at the end.
I can't do that.
Yeah.
And so he'd prefer Walter Reed or Alabama.
But I will often say that we have offered the president just a, yeah, fine.
I'll make another one.
I'll talk to you soon.
Oh, I just wanted to get sort of a more .
How did everybody think about providing things to look at, of course, or something?
Great.
How did the rest of the people think about how they react to it?
Well, it was sort of, well, not so bad, but I mean, they just said the usual, uh, certain names included, and it was real.
Right, right.
And what'd they say?
Oh, well, I've got to go.
I've got to go.
I've got to go.
I've got to go.
I've got to go.
I've got to go.
I've got to go.
Tonight, I mean, in fact, as I am going to
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