Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 827 › Conversation 827-016

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Ronald Kessler and Press relations

Wednesday, December 20, 1972 · 2:40 PM–2:45 PM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation827-016 on Tape 827StartWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 2:40 PMEndWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 2:45 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 827-016 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon used this session to dictate a letter to journalist Ronald Kessler regarding an article about the Nixon family's history and personal connections. The President reflected on his career in the House, Senate, and Vice Presidency, while also emphasizing his enduring closeness to long-time associates like Clifford and Archie Moore. Furthermore, Nixon finalized arrangements for a future White House visit for Mrs. Moore to coincide with the return of his daughters, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

By the coverage of those years, we had the perfect scenario.
When I was serving in the House of Senators, Vice President Perry and Perry,
We all felt very closer.
All the people who have worked for us, all the many, many people who have worked for us through the years, I think Archie and I are still closest to him.
This is why, because
of the kinds by which you shall rely on such great weapons in this world.
when they were very small children, creative.
And as a result of your piece,
I shall be sure I shall secure that journey.
She will, uh, visit us at the White House.
Uh, we just have so much hope.
And at a time when, uh, our two daughters and, uh, at a time when Christian Billy will, uh, have returned from their travels abroad, from their trips abroad, there is nothing we can try more than to see her again.

NARA Description

On December 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 827-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 827-16

Date: December 20, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a letter to Ronald Kessler.

[This is a continuation of conversation No. 827-15.]

The President replayed a portion of his dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Press relations
             -Kessler’s article
                    -Clifford Moore
                          -The First Family’s memories
                                -The President’s experience in the House of Representatives,
                                 Senate, Vice Presidency

The President replayed a portion of his dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Press relations
             -Kessler’s article
                    -Mrs. Moore
                          -The First Family’s memories
                                -Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox
                          -Possible visit to the White House
                                -Timing
                                       -Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s and Tricia Nixon Cox’s
                                               -40-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                              Conversation No. 827-16 (cont’d)

                                      schedule

Also recorded on December 20, 1972

  • 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.
  • 827-014 2:25 PM · 11 min — 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.
  • 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.
  • 827-017 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.
  • 827-021 3:05 PM · 45 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Saul Pett, Henry Burroughs, White House photographer, and Zosimo T. Monzon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:05 pm to 3:49 pm.

All 47 conversations from December 20, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 827-016, 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/827-016 (accessed October 11, 2026).