Conversation 783-015

TapeTape 783StartTuesday, September 19, 1972 at 12:16 PMEndTuesday, September 19, 1972 at 12:25 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Reserve Officers Association; Upp, Robert D. (Brig. Gen.); Crawford, B. Hayden (Rear Adm.); Boyles, Eugene H. (Col.); Craig, James C. (Col.); Rhatican, William F.; Stephens, Melvin; Bull, Stephen B.; White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon met with representatives of the Reserve Officers Association to discuss national defense policy and the importance of fostering public respect for military personnel, particularly regarding the transition to an all-volunteer force. The group expressed strong support for the Administration's military policies, including the mining of Haiphong harbor, and discussed the broader political landscape of the 1972 campaign. The meeting concluded with the President presenting commemorative gifts to the attendees and a brief discussion regarding the President's upcoming schedule.

Reserve Officers AssociationNational defenseAll-volunteer army1972 presidential campaignVietnam WarMilitary morale

Audio

NARA Description

On September 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the Reserve Officers Association, including Brig. Gen. Robert D. Upp, Col. John T. Carlton, Rear Adm. B. Hayden Crawford, Col. Eugene H. Boyles, Col. James C. Craig, William F. Rhatican, and Melvin Stephens, Stephen B. Bull, and the White House photographer, met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 12:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 783-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 783-15

Date: September 19, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:16 pm and 12:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Brig. Gen. Robert D. Upp, Col. John T. Carlton, Rear Adm. B. Hayden

                                          (rev. Nov-03)

Crawford, Col. Eugene H. Boyles, Col. James C. Craig, William F. Rhatican, and Mel L.
Stephens; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

             Greetings and introductions
                 -Crawford, Boyles, Craig, Carlton

             [Photograph session]
                 -Service flags
                     -Marine Corps

             Southern California
                 -1972 campaign
                 -Los Angeles City College

             National defense issue
                 -Reserve Officers Association's support for Administration
                      -Meetings
                      -Vietnam War
                           -Mining of Haiphong harbor
                 -Respect for service men and women
                      -All-volunteer army
                      -1972 election

             Presentation of gifts by the President
                 -Cuff links
                      -Presidential seal
                 -Golf balls
                      -Donald McI. Kendall
                          -Wilson Co.

Upp et al. left and Stephen B. Bull entered at 12:22 pm.

             The President's schedule
                 -Presidential gifts
                     -Golf balls
                          -Display

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:25 pm.

                                        (rev. Nov-03)

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.

I'm going to set this picture up in a way that each of you stand by a flag.

Now let's see what we've got here.

Air Force Coast Guard

Yes, sir.

I want to say that I

mining hive on or anything like that.

We know you've got to stand up.

And that's what we need.

National defenses in retirement.

We've got to be for a strong national defense.

And also for respect for people who are in uniform or out, which is a very, very important period in the history of this country.

It's that you have so many people who

We just can't have a country that is strong.

You can't have a strong national defense, particularly on a volunteer basis, unless you give us the respect.

This is money alone.

You've got to respect these people.

Yes, sir.

I heard that message, too.

That's what we believe.

And I don't miss an opportunity to say those things when I'm out in the country.

The country's with us on that.

They don't want to be stopped.

They don't want to be decimated.

I think they're badly overrated.

off of this flag.

Those are just, those are new.

Those have just been paid.

They've taken the seal off the President's flag.

Put it in a cup.

In living color.

So, that's one for each of you.

Thank you very much.

We will all, everybody in the service of God.

We've got to keep our scores.

I've never been an officer.

Thank you.

Thank you for your help.

Good luck, all of you.

Thank you.

reports that they got a new class.

Is that right?

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