Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 768 › Conversation 768-018

Nixon, Bull & Forst on Senior citizens and Welfare policy

Monday, August 14, 1972 · 12:39 PM–12:45 PM ET · Oval Office ·6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.;  Forst, Robert A.;  Evans, L. John;  White House photographerConversation768-018 onTape 768StartMonday, August 14, 1972 at 12:39 PMEndMonday, August 14, 1972 at 12:45 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 768-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Robert A. Forst and Llewellyn J. Evans, along with aide Stephen B. Bull, to discuss the social standing and political concerns of senior citizens. Nixon and his visitors contrasted the perceived pride and work ethic of retirees with welfare recipients, criticizing liberal policies for grouping the elderly with other welfare-dependent populations. During the meeting, which included a photo session, the President presented the guests with ceremonial gifts, including cufflinks and tie clasps bearing the presidential seal.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, don't we know?
Thank God.
Let's come back here.
Right?
We don't say the country right or wrong.
But we try to make it right.
Well, these people couldn't agree with you more, sir.
The one thing that I'm trying to say, you will surely.
The one thing that I'm trying to say, you will surely.
The one thing that I'm trying to say,
They're not what they've got.
That's the point.
They work all their lives.
I understand the difference.
And they don't want to be put in the same category with a group of people that want to sit in their families and do nothing.
These people are people that work all their lives.
They reach the day to when they should be able to reap some of the benefits of retirement.
And then they're entitled to it.
Absolutely.
It's a matter of right.
Now, as I understand, if you can get them, that's right.
I guarantee you that we can get you.
Don't worry.
We must treat the older people as a matter of life.
That's right.
It's better crime.
It's better crime.
I love that country.
And they just darken it up.
And yet, you know, there is a tendency among some of the ultra-liberal types these days to just put the whole bunches in and put the blind and the poor and the old, you know, right, and the unwed mother.
We will help them with the ones that are done.
We'll provide the data.
And we'll help you.
I'm sure.
But now let's see.
Anybody who comes in this office and reports, it's always going to the presidential complex.
This is the ceiling.
And on the floor, there is the country.
And your wife.
It's the same thing.
It's a little pinch.
Great.
So thank you very, very much, sir.
Do you have one of these?
You don't have to report these.
It's not worth that much.
Mr. President, I presume that we shall do everything we possibly can to serve the nation.
A friend of mine that they fired told me about this.
And I came on in.
I live in California now for about nine, ten years.
I live in Bel Air.
I am married to a native Californian.
I have three kids that have been born in California.
And I have one advantage over you, sir.
You're a Californian by birth.
12, 10, and 5.
Boys or girls?
I have a girl and two boys.
A girl with the illness.
A girl and two boys.
I'm going to pick some up, too.
A girl and two boys.
Boys or girls?
I have a girl.
Well, why is it, sir?
I have a second, sir.
I can see you.
I don't know.

NARA Description

On August 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Robert A. Forst, L. John Evans, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:39 pm to 12:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 768-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 768-18

Date: August 14, 1972
Time: 12:39 pm - 12:45 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull, Robert Allen Forst and Llewellyn J. Evans; the White
House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

             Greetings

             Forst’s meeting with the President
                 -Forst’s view
                      -Hell’s Kitchen, New York

             Senior citizens

             [Photograph session]

             Senior citizens
                 -Desire to improve society
                 -Contrasted with welfare recipients
                      -Pride of senior citizens
                      -View of liberals
                           -Blind
                           -Poor
                           -Senior citizens
                           -Unwed mothers

             Presentation of gifts by the President
                 -Cuff links
                      -Presidential seal
                 -Pin
                 -Tie clasp

             Forst
                 -Support for the President
                 -Background
                     -Publishing

                                         (rev. Nov-03)

                 -[Senior Citizen Sentinal]
                 -California
                     -Bel Air
                 -Family
                     -Children
                          -Presidential gifts
                               -Tie clasp
                               -Pins

Forst and Evans left at 12:45 am.

Also recorded on August 14, 1972

  • 768-011 12:04 PM · 44 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:04 pm and 12:07 pm.
  • 768-012 12:07 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Samuel D. Winer, Mrs. Samuel D. Winer, Charles W. Colson, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:07 pm to 12:09 pm.
  • 768-014 12:09 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Louella (Carver) Dirksen, Rose Mary Woods, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:09 pm to 12:17 pm.
  • 768-016 12:17 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Bailey K. Howard, Ronald L. Ziegler, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:17 pm to 12:38 pm.
  • 768-017 12:38 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:38 pm.
  • 768-019 12:45 PM · 54 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:45 pm and 12:49 pm.
  • 768-020 12:49 PM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, John J. Ratchford, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, John W. Dean, III, John H. Alexander, Richard S. Ritzel, White House photographer, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:49 pm to 1:12 pm.
  • 768-021 1:12 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 1:15 pm.

All 49 conversations from August 14, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 768-018, August 14, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/768-018 (accessed September 18, 2026).