Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 774 › Conversation 774-019

Nixon, Sanson & Rhatican on AMVETS and Vietnam War

Monday, September 11, 1972 · 12:25 PM–12:29 PM ET · Oval Office ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Sanson, Joseph N.;  Rhatican, William F.;  Bull, Stephen B.;  White House photographerConversation774-019 onTape 774StartMonday, September 11, 1972 at 12:25 PMEndMonday, September 11, 1972 at 12:29 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 774-019 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with AMVETS representatives Joseph N. Sanson and William F. Rhatican to discuss his administration's policies regarding the Vietnam War, national defense, and amnesty. The dialogue emphasized the President's alignment with veterans' groups and labor leaders against the positions held by George McGovern and figures like Jane Fonda. The meeting concluded with a gift presentation and a brief discussion regarding potential future appearances by the President at veterans' events.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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How are you?
Good to see you.
Congratulations.
Well, we always want to receive
I had a problem this year, but I mentioned it was him.
I had to talk to him.
I said, all right, let's go here.
Oh, listen, that's what I meant.
Vietnam administered all the way, and that's all that really happened.
Oh, absolutely.
Yeah.
sequence on the other side as we have to get in.
Always the veterans, and frankly labor leaders, want to come in and stand firm.
You know?
And that's what I appreciate.
So we're very pleased with your position.
I think the exit of the reservation is in the image.
Well, now you've got a little present, too, from the hostesses today.
Not much of it.
That's the presidential seat.
I'm going to compliment you a little.
You always have.
Great.
Thank you very much.
Oh, that's so good.

NARA Description

On September 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Joseph N. Sanson, William F. Rhatican, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:25 pm to 12:29 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 774-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 774-19

Date: September 11, 1972
Time: 12:25 pm - 12:29 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Joseph N. Sanson and William F. Rhatican.

[Stephen B. Bull and the White House photographer were present at the beginning of the
meeting.]

        American Veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam [AMVETS]
           -The President's support
           -Background

        Presentation to the President

        Sanson
            -Background

        Baseball
            -Detroit Tigers
                 -Mickey Lolich's previous meeting with the President
            -Boston Red Sox

                                          (rev. Oct-06)

         The President's policies
             -AMVETS support
                  -Vietnam, defense, amnesty
                  -Jane Fonda, W. Ramsey Clark
             -George S. McGovern
             -Vietnam
             -Business people
             -Supporters
                  -Veterans, Labor

         Presentation of gifts by the President

         AMVETS
            -The President's possible attendance at dinner, convention
                -Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]

Sanson et al. left at 12:29 pm.

Also recorded on September 11, 1972

  • 774-016 12:04 PM · 55 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 12:05 pm.
  • 774-017 12:05 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Joseph T. DeSilva, Willie J. Usery, Jr., Charles W. Colson, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:05 pm to 12:24 pm.
  • 774-018 12:24 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:24 pm and 12:25 pm.
  • 774-020 12:29 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:29 pm to 12:36 pm.
  • 360-010 12:36 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:36 pm and 12:40 pm.
  • 360-011 12:36 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:36 pm and 12:40 pm.
  • 774-021 12:36 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House on an unknown date, sometime between 12:36 pm on September 11, 1972 and 10:44 am on September 12, 1972.
  • 360-012 12:40 PM · 42 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:40 pm to 1:45 pm.

All 36 conversations from September 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 774-019, September 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/774-019 (accessed September 18, 2026).