Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 827 › Conversation 827-018

Nixon & Woods on Saul Pett and Associated Press

Wednesday, December 20, 1972 · 2:45 PM–2:46 PM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose MaryConversation827-018 on Tape 827StartWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 2:45 PMEndWednesday, December 20, 1972 at 2:46 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 827-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and his personal secretary Rose Mary Woods briefly discuss the President's upcoming meeting with Associated Press reporter Saul Pett. They weigh the potential value of the interaction, with the President expressing skepticism about Pett's reputation and character. Ultimately, Nixon instructs Woods to gauge the reporter's intentions and determine whether a meeting is advisable.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Thank you.

Oh, here it is.

Did you say it's called Solve-Fest this time?

Solve-Fest.

He's from New York now, wearing his colored pieces.

I may have to drop in and see after I see him.

Just do it.

He's spreading.

He's not a, he's an evil man.

I'll have a feel of that guy.

I don't know whether I want to see him, okay?

Okay.

Saul Petty, E-E-T-T-T. Hi.

Okay.

NARA Description

On December 20, 1972, 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. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 827-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 827-18

Date: December 20, 1972
Time: 2:45 pm and 2:46 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

       The President’s letter to Ronald Kessler
            -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

       The President’s schedule
            -Meeting with Saul Pett
                  -Woods’s possible meeting with Pett
                         -Pett’s identity
                               -Associated Press [AP]
                                      -New York
                                      -“Color pieces”
                               -Relationship with the administration

Rose Woods left at 2:46 pm.
                                              -41-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

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.
827-016 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.
827-019 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 827-018, 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/827-018 (accessed October 11, 2026).