Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 831 › Conversation 831-004

Nixon & Woods on Alexander M. Haig Jr. and Presidential gifts

Wednesday, January 3, 1973 · 10:50 AM–11:00 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose MaryConversation831-004 on Tape 831StartWednesday, January 3, 1973 at 10:50 AMEndWednesday, January 3, 1973 at 11:00 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 831-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to arrange a retirement or appreciation gift for Alexander M. Haig, Jr. He requested that Woods prepare an inscribed music box to be presented to Haig during a scheduled ceremony at the White House where Haig would receive the Distinguished Service Medal. The president specified that the gift's inscription should convey gratitude for Haig's dedicated service to the nation.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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I think he sent him over to, you know, sing along for him or something, but I don't know.

But I had a, I was patting him here.

But I was wondering if we could get one of those music boxes ready for him.

Or who?

Fine.

The song, I don't think it makes any difference.

I guess the thought would be very nice.

If you could get something,

Just make a penchant for appreciation for his dedicated service to the nation.

Something like that.

A little card to that insider.

Oh, yeah, a card, sure.

Okay, if you'll do that, I would like to have it so that I can give it to him tomorrow.

All right.

Well, I see I can have him.

See, he's coming in here for the presentation of the medal.

That's where I'll participate.

Okay.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On January 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:50 am and 11:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 831-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 831-4

Date: January 3, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:50 am and 11:00 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.
                                           -11-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                       Conversation No. 831-4 (cont’d)

      Dinner with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

      Gift for Haig
            -Music box
            -Inscription
            -Card
            -Presentation
                  -Distinguished Service Medal
                  -Fort Myer

Also recorded on January 3, 1973

831-001 9:40 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:40 am to 9:46 am.
831-002 9:46 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:46 am and 9:49 am.
831-003 9:49 AM · 56 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:49 am to 10:50 am.
831-005 11:00 AM · 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
831-006 11:30 AM · 1 hr 40 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm.
035-071 1:01 PM · 2 min — Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield, Hugh Scott, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 1:01 pm to 1:03 pm.
831-007 1:05 PM · 55 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:05 pm to 2:00 pm.
035-072 2:00 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:00 pm and 2:48 pm.

All 39 conversations from January 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 831-004, January 3, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/831-004 (accessed October 12, 2026).