Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 803 › Conversation 803-011

Nixon & Timmons on Congressional adjournment and Legislative relations

Wednesday, October 18, 1972 · 12:02 PM–12:04 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Timmons, William E.Conversation803-011 on Tape 803StartWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 12:02 PMEndWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 12:04 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 803-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and William E. Timmons discussed logistical arrangements for the upcoming congressional adjournment, specifically regarding how legislative leadership would formally notify the President. They reviewed historical precedents for this notification process, weighing options such as a personal visit to the White House or a telephone call from key leaders like Mike Mansfield. The conversation also briefly touched upon the status of Hale Boggs following his recent airplane disappearance, with Nixon suggesting this should be treated as a matter of public concern.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Bill, uh, you're still expecting service, right?
Well, you think it would be a nice stretch for you to survive on your own?
If they would like, they can do it either way.
It's been done at times in person.
Yes, sir, it has.
Sometimes the president went up there.
That's right.
I didn't want to go up there, the way they took us around.
But I think if they would like to come down for a cup of coffee or something like that tonight, I'll be here all afternoon.
And for the department, or they can go by phone, whichever is better.
You can call Mike and say it's something, it's his choice to get his version than the speaker.
If they want to.
The mailbox thing, that wasn't...
I don't think it would be.
I look at your answer sheet.
Now, the fact that Hale, you know, he's not here, I don't know what happened to him.
I just think it's a public matter.
You might talk about that, gentlemen.
Well, if they come down, I didn't express myself.
But they come.
I'd say you're a diligent person.

NARA Description

On October 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:02 pm to 12:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 803-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 803-11

Date: October 18, 1972
Time: 12:02 pm -12:04 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with William E. Timmons.

        Congress
           -Forthcoming adjournment
                -Invitation to Michael J. Mansfield, Margaret Chase Smith, Gerald R. Ford,
           [Carl B. Albert]
                    -Arrangements
                    -Method of advising the President of adjournment
                          -Precedent
                    - [Thomas] Hale Boggs
                          -Airplane crash

Timmons left at 12:04 pm.

Also recorded on October 18, 1972

  • 031-116 11:45 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:45 am.
  • 803-008 11:45 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:45 am.
  • 803-009 11:45 AM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 11:59 am.
  • 031-117 11:59 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-010 11:59 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 031-118 12:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 12:04 pm to 12:08 pm.
  • 803-012 12:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:04 pm to 12:09 pm.
  • 803-013 12:09 PM · 1 hr 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:09 pm and 1:27 pm.

All 86 conversations from October 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 803-011, October 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/803-011 (accessed October 10, 2026).