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Conversation 737-005

TapeTape 737StartFriday, June 16, 1972 at 12:33 PMEndFriday, June 16, 1972 at 2:38 PMTape start time02:42:07Tape end time02:51:21ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.;  Coffey, Vernon C., Jr.;  Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.)Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with staff and General Brent Scowcroft to finalize arrangements for a medal presentation ceremony honoring the late John Paul Vann. The discussion centered on managing potential press coverage and coordinating the participation of the Vann family members. Nixon explicitly directed staff to prevent a anticipated political gesture involving the presentation of a draft card by Vann’s son to ensure the event remained dignified and free of media-staged incidents.

John Paul VannCeremonial protocolsPress managementMedal presentationVietnam War
AudioNARA Description

On June 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Vernon C. Coffey, Jr., and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:33 pm to 2:38 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 737-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 737-5

Date: June 16, 1972
Time: 12:33 - 2:38 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull and Vernon C. Coffey, Jr.

      The President's schedule
           -Ceremony for John Paul Vann
                -The President's remarks
                -Vann's wife
                -John A. Vann
                -Press
                -The President's remarks
                -Arrangements
                       -Family
                       -Melvin R. Laird
                       -William P. Rogers
                       -Joseph W. Alsop
                 -Presentation
                 -Press

Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft entered at 12:33 pm.

      Vann's funeral
          -Press
          -The President's remarks
                -Presentation of medal
          -Vann's son
                -Draft card
                      -Presentation
                          -Press coverage
                                 -Ronald L. Ziegler
                          -Family reaction
                          -The President’s view
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Excuse me, Mr. President.
With regard to the ceremony, you know, I don't have a chance to deal with it before this time.
The people are here.
That's good.
All right.
Stay right here.
Oh, they want remarks, it is true.
Well, they provided you with some remarks, as it might happen, and it helps to keep you, you know, wishing you'd be fine.
His wife is not going to be here.
His wife is here, sir.
She is a new gentleman.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Or presents.
Yes.
I can be here.
I can talk.
Oh, there, I just picked up.
This is about an exchange.
His wife is here, sir.
I just don't want the goddamn crescent here.
That was all optional.
But I might suggest that if you'd like to have to really .
I'm here to introduce people and to be presenting this to John Hayden.
After you pre-lit one, where are we going to stand?
So you'll stand right here, so pre-lit, and I'll get the family, put them all over here in center service.
Larry and Rogers, Joe Hudson will be here also.
Yeah, right.
He's over here.
He's over here.
He's coming from the county.
He has to come out by now.
He has to represent us.
All right.
And then we'll get to John A. Mann and the rest of the family, just as you read the citations and present the medal.
And as soon as you've given that to John A. Mann, the son, let's get the rest out of here.
What is this?
Well, the rest of the family doesn't want to be a part of it.
Well, if this is the case, you can't have a son that cares when he presents a draft card.
Any of that, sir?
I would imagine that if the press is here, people will do it in front of the press.
Of course, of course.
So we're not going to have them either exclude the son or exclude the... Have they announced this to the press?
Yes, yes, yes.
I don't think it's excluded, Sonny.
That's the question, too.
I don't think the press would think that.
Well, if you like the press, the thing we should do is exclude them.
No, no, no, no, no.
The best thing to do is to have them all come in and give you the card, and then I'll have the press in.
I'll talk to him first.
We can have the son come in by himself, because I don't think the rest of the family wants to be associated with it.
All right.
If he wants to hand you his draft card, then we can go along with this.
I'm not going to let him come in.
If he can't come in and hand it, I can give it to you.
All right.
Because otherwise, we're going to make that the incident.
No, he's not going to come to this office.
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