Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 827 › Conversation 827-014

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Ronald Kessler and Washington Post

Wednesday, December 20, 1972 · 2:25 PM–2:35 PM ET · Oval Office · 11 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation827-014 on Tape 827StartWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 2:25 PMEndWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 2:35 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 827-014 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon uses his recording system to dictate a letter of appreciation to journalist Ronald Kessler regarding a recent Washington Post article about the First Family. The President reflects on the piece, which featured personal anecdotes from Clifford and Willard Moore about their time with the Nixons. Nixon emphasizes the warmth of these memories and directs that the message be formally transcribed for the reporter.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 19% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
This is just not telling you how much I enjoy the... your piece of the Washington Post... your piece of the Post...
on December 19th, in which you recount those
This is a letter to Mr. Cassidy.
1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4.
This is a letter to Mr. Kessler, who wrote the article in the Washington Post.
On Willard Moore, there is a message.
I don't know, that's just another thing I'm not sure.
We all enjoyed your, uh, decent post, uh, visit.
uh, based on our interview with, uh, Susan, or Mark, very apparently.
This is marvelous.
What I want you to do.
Now this is one of the finest things
Thank you.
Mrs. Nixon, our two daughters and I have
the most pleasant memories of those years when
This is to Mr. Kessler, who wrote the article in the library.
Mr. Kessler.
This is just for the type.
I'll bury him if you don't enjoy it.
You're buried, aren't you?
Covering your interview with Mr. Kessler in one of your interviews.
as we read it.
It brought back many pleasant memories of those years we have in the nation of Oregon.

NARA Description

On December 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:25 pm and 2:35 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 827-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 827-14

Date: December 20, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:25 pm and 2:35 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a letter to Ronald Kessler.

       Press relations
             -Washington Post article, “A Glimpse of the Private Nixon – by Longtime Sitter”
                    -The President’s appreciation

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
                                               -37-

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 827-14 (cont’d)

       [Pause]

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

The President played his recorder.

       Test signals

The President replayed a portion of his dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Press relations
             -Kessler’s article
                    -Interview with Clifford Moore
                    -Moore
                          -Personal qualities

The President replayed a portion of his dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Mrs. Moore
            -Mrs. Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox, the President

The President replayed a portion of his dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Press relations
             -Kessler’s article
                    -Interview with Mrs. Moore
                    -Mrs. Moore
                          -The First Family’s memories

[This letter continues as Conversation No. 827-16]
                                               -38-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on December 20, 1972

  • 827-012 1:53 PM · 27 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:53 pm to 2:20 pm.
  • 827-013 2:20 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Edward V. Jones, Mrs. Edward V. Jones, James Balling, Jr., Mrs. James Balling, Jr., Nella Balling, Maria Balling, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:20 pm to 2:25 pm.
  • 827-015 2:36 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
  • 827-016 2:40 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm.
  • 827-017 2:40 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm.
  • 827-018 2:45 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:45 pm to 2:46 pm.
  • 827-019 2:47 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:47 pm to 2:55 pm.
  • 827-020 2:56 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:56 pm to 3:05 pm.

All 47 conversations from December 20, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 827-014, December 20, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/827-014 (accessed October 11, 2026).