Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 812 › Conversation 812-007

Nixon, Train & Willard on Council on Environmental Quality

Friday, November 3, 1972 · 10:37 AM–10:41 AM ET · Oval Office · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Train, Russell E.; Willard, Beatrice ("Bettie"); Whitaker, John C.; White House photographerConversation812-007 on Tape 812StartFriday, November 3, 1972 at 10:37 AMEndFriday, November 3, 1972 at 10:41 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 812-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with members of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), including Russell E. Train and Beatrice Willard, for a formal photograph session and a discussion regarding environmental policy. The President requested that the Council provide material for his upcoming State of the Union address by December 1, 1972. During the exchange, Nixon also emphasized his commitment to conservation measures, such as energy-saving practices and paper recycling, while briefly touching upon his California background and campaign interests.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
See, you rule this area, Mr. President.
See that little strange thing?
Wow.
See, uh... See, listen.
I'm sure they all understand how decent John Wagner is.
John Wagner is one of the serious.
They understand.
They're the most down-to-earth.
Excuse me.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I don't know.
Well, we're glad to have a woman planet on this island.
And I say, look, I think that's the real future.
You see, I'll let you see it all the time.
I'll let you see it all the time.
I'll let you see it all the time.
Oh, I think I'm going to, I don't know, wait, but, uh, I'm going to, uh, I'm going to, uh, I'm going to, uh,
Oh, yeah.
I don't know.
Thank you.
All right.
I'm sorry.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
I won't let you go.
I'm going to go chase you.
I'm going to go chase you.
I'm going to go chase you.
We're out at 2, California.

NARA Description

On November 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Russell E. Train, Beatrice ("Bettie") Willard, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 812-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 812-7

Date: November 3, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:37 am and 10:46 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       The President’s schedule
            -Council on Environmental Quality [CEQ]
                  -Time constraint
                         -John C. Whitaker

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

       The President’s schedule
            -CEQ
                  -Photograph session
                  -John Busterude
                         -1962 California campaign
                  -Rank
            -Ronald L. Ziegler

Russell E. Train, Busterude, Beatrice ("Bettie") Willard, and Whitaker entered at 10:41 am. The
press and photographers were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Greetings
                                           -8-

                 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                          Conversation No. 812-13 (cont’d)

     Willard
           -Ecology

     Busterude
          -Background
               -[California] legislature

     The President’s schedule

     Photograph session
          -Arrangements

     [Photograph session]
          -The President’s schedule
                -Chicago, Oklahoma, Providence, Rhode Island
                -San Clemente
          -The President’s background
                -Yorba Linda, California
                -San Clemente
                -Hannah Milhous Nixon, Frank Nixon

     Ecology
          -The President’s forthcoming State of the Union address
               -Request for material
                     -Timing
                            -December 1, 1972
          -The President’s support
               -Conservation measures
                     -Statement
                            -Unknown matter
                     -Turning off lights
                     -Writing on backs of yellow pads of paper

     Presidential gifts
           -Presentation

*****************************************************************
                                             -9-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 812-13 (cont’d)

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]

        1972 campaign [?]
             -California
             -John H. Chafee
             -Californians

*****************************************************************

Train et al. left at 10:46 am.

Also recorded on November 3, 1972

  • 812-002 10:16 AM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
  • 812-003 10:16 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
  • 812-004 10:19 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Mistislav V. Keldysh, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, Philip Handler, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:19 am to 10:37 am.
  • 812-005 10:37 AM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am.
  • 812-006 10:37 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am.
  • 812-008 10:46 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:46 am and 10:54 am.
  • 812-014 10:54 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:54 am and 11:00 am.
  • 812-015 10:54 AM · 11 sec — unknown person(s) and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:54 am and 11:00 am.

All 54 conversations from November 3, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 812-007, November 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/812-007 (accessed October 12, 2026).