Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 781 › Conversation 781-015

Nixon, Kyl & Clausen on H.R. 13089 and National Forest Program

Monday, September 18, 1972 · 12:17 PM–12:24 PM ET · Oval Office · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kyl, John; Clausen, Don H.; Nidecker, John E.; Friedersdorf, Max L.; White House photographerConversation781-015 on Tape 781StartMonday, September 18, 1972 at 12:17 PMEndMonday, September 18, 1972 at 12:24 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 781-015 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Representatives John Kyl and Don H. Clausen, along with White House staff, to conduct a ceremonial photo session and discuss the signing of H.R. 13089, a bill related to the National Forest Program. The participants engaged in informal conversation regarding the President's recent visit to China, the planting of redwood trees, and the logistical delivery of regional gifts like pears and wine to the White House. The meeting concluded with brief discussions on the health and status of various members of Congress involved in water-related legislation.

Audio

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NARA Description

On September 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, John Kyl, Don H. Clausen, John E. Nidecker, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:17 pm to 12:24 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 781-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 781-15

Date: September 18, 1972
Time: 12:17 pm - 12:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John H. Kyl, Don H. Clausen, John E. Nidecker, and Max L.
Friedersdorf.

[The White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.]

            Greetings

            [Photograph session]
                -Crescent City, California
                    -Photograph
                         -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

            Mrs. Nixon's schedule
                -Chicago, Yellowstone National Park

            Signing ceremony
                -House Resolution [HR] 13089
                     -National Forest Program
                     -National Archives and Records Service

            The President's previous visit to the People's Republic of China [PRC]
                -Dwarf tree from Peking
                -Planting trees
                    -Redwood planting in Hangchow botanical garden
                         -Sequoia tree
                         -Chou En-lai
                              -Replanting

            White House gifts
               -Cuff links
                   -Presidential seal
               -Pins

            Clausen’s district
                -Pears, wine
                    -Delivery

            Water bill

            Pears, wine
                -Delivery
                     -White House

              Water bill
                 -Clausen’s recent conversation with Edward S. Muskic
                 -William H. Hersha
                 -Wayne N. Aspinall
                 -Walter S. Baring
                      -Age
                      -Health
                 -Bella Abzug

              Health
                  -Pears

Kyl et al. left at 12:24 pm.

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.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

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Hi, John, how are you?
I mean, let's get one little photograph sort of standing here, chatting about the bill.
If we're going to be involved, we're going to have to have some of this information.
You've got so many trees.
Why don't you give some to him?
We're going to have to do that.
I guess that's what I want to do with this.
Well, that's very good.
And speaking of trees, I'm going to give you one.
Oh, this one.
Oh, wow.
This is from the gym center out there.
I'll give you the present state.
That's where we're going to have a dance party.
We're going to have a dance party over there.
We're going to have a dance party over there.
I'll take and have a picture taken with Pat.
If you have a chance to visit with Tom or Tammy, if you'd like.
But I thought you might like to give this to her, because this is an original.
Yes.
She's out.
Oh, really?
Yeah, she's out.
She's going to the 100th anniversary of Yellowstone.
No, Chicago is going to the 100th anniversary of Yellowstone tomorrow.
The next day.
I'll give it to her when she comes back.
Well, now let's have the signing ceremony.
that go down in the archives.
It's a great thing.
It's a great thing.
There's a little redwood out there, and we planted a redwood in China while we were there.
Oh, really?
We planted one.
At 11, we planted it in China in the, what was the town, you know, second stop?
San Jose.
San Jose.
San Jose.
And it's Hang Chow, H-A-N-G, H-O-W.
It's Hong Chow.
They say it's Hong Chow, Hong Chow.
If you say Hang Chow, that's what it is.
But Hang Chow, in that beautiful park where they have these, oh, all sorts of lovely trees and so forth and workers, we planted a squirrel.
And Joe and I was there, and he didn't like the place.
Get out.
I'll get back to you.
I know that.
So I'm going to be delivering new pairs.
Oh, I know it's not a new kind of car.
I've been around.
I'm going to be delivering new pairs.
I know I have a case of it, and I know my road is going to go with that.
But I'll tell you what it is.
Be sure on the pairs lines you do that they come to you, and they're not going to have a fight.
I'll handle it.
You can bring them in, because otherwise it's a shame.
I got some all bearing and things.
There's a chance that
I'll see you, sir.
He's more ill than the old guy.
We lost my chairman.
All right.
Let's go.

Also recorded on September 18, 1972

  • 781-011 11:45 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:45 am.
  • 781-012 11:45 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, David N. Henderson, John E. Nidecker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:45 am to 11:52 am.
  • 781-013 11:53 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:53 am.
  • 781-014 11:54 AM · 23 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William M. Colmer, Adm. Wallis M. Enger, George Ryder, John E. Nidecker, White House photographer, William E. Timmons, Manolo Sanchez, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:54 am to 12:16 pm.
  • 781-016 12:24 PM · 48 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 12:26 pm.
  • 781-017 12:24 PM · 24 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 12:26 pm.
  • 781-018 12:51 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:51 pm.
  • 781-019 12:51 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:51 pm.

All 44 conversations from September 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 781-015, September 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/781-015 (accessed November 2, 2026).