{"conversationCode":"867-033","tapeNumber":867,"conversationNumber":33,"identifier":"37-wht-conversation-867-033","startDateTime":"1973-03-02T21:08:00.000Z","endDateTime":"1973-03-02T22:05:00.000Z","startDate":"2-Mar-1973","startTime":"4:08 PM","endDate":"2-Mar-1973","endTime":"5:05 PM","dateCertainty":"certain","timeCertainty":"estimated","participants":"Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Ball, Robert; Ball, Robert (Mrs.);","description":"On March 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Robert Ball, and Mrs. Robert Ball met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 867-033 of the White House Tapes.","locationCode":"OVAL","recordingDevice":"Oval Office","latitudeEstimated":38.8974,"longitudeEstimated":-77.0374,"chronCode":"5.4","chronRelease":"Fifth Chronological Release: Part IV","chronReleaseDate":"8-Dec-2010","aogpRelease":null,"aogpSegment":null,"lastModified":"2015-07-27T17:04:10.235Z","findingAid":"Conversation No. 867-33\n\nDate: March 2, 1973\nTime: Unknown between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm\nLocation: Oval Office\n\nThe President met with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ball; Stephen B. Bull and the White House\nphotographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.\n\n       Introductions\n             -Social Security Administration\n\n       Photographs\n            -Arrangements\n\n       Ball's job performance\n              -Competence\n              -Honesty\n\n       Social Security\n             -Value\n             -Purpose\n             -Contributions of recipients\n             -Value of system\n             -Inflation\n                    -Impact\n                    -Rate\n\n       Presidential seal crewel work\n             -Julie Nixon Eisenhower\n\nMr. and Mrs. Ball left.","filename":["867-033.mp3"],"tapeStart":"","tapeEnd":"","participantsList":["Nixon, Richard M. (President)","Bull, Stephen B.","Ball, Robert","Ball, Robert (Mrs.)"],"prevCode":"867-032","nextCode":"867-034","transcript":[{"start":0.69,"end":6.45,"text":"Mr. President, this is Robert Baldwin."},{"start":6.89,"end":12.05,"text":"I thought we might get a picture here."},{"start":22.82,"end":26.89,"text":"Well, you've, uh, I'd say you've made recommendations, too."},{"start":27.13,"end":38.12,"text":"Uh, I saw you working on that."},{"start":40.47,"end":63.42,"text":"You're one of those in this area that are, as a, I should be pleased that I was able to tell you that it's a great way to change your confidence and honesty."},{"start":63.44,"end":64.14,"text":"Just do your job."},{"start":64.16,"end":65.3,"text":"And, oh, I'll manage Bridget's back and all that."},{"start":65.34,"end":65.78,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":65.8,"end":66.12,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":66.14,"end":66.6,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":66.62,"end":67.08,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":67.1,"end":67.7,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":68.98,"end":69.4,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":69.42,"end":69.82,"text":"You can do that."},{"start":70.44,"end":71.6,"text":"Hard to find, of course."},{"start":73.42,"end":73.63,"text":"Yeah."},{"start":73.71,"end":74.99,"text":"Well, it's a great program."},{"start":75.15,"end":77.51,"text":"You know, it's a real self-help program."},{"start":77.53,"end":78.97,"text":"It is not what you think."},{"start":79.01,"end":80.23,"text":"Do you believe it?"},{"start":80.25,"end":81.59,"text":"I certainly don't."},{"start":81.61,"end":83.12,"text":"You don't think we should repeal it?"},{"start":83.16,"end":83.68,"text":"No, no, no."},{"start":83.72,"end":84.56,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":84.58,"end":85.56,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":85.6,"end":86.2,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":86.24,"end":87.26,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":87.28,"end":89.56,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":89.58,"end":90.46,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":90.48,"end":91.5,"text":"We're going to do it."},{"start":92.46,"end":93.46,"text":"And it's coming out of their own doors."},{"start":93.48,"end":95.58,"text":"So I agree with you in a sense, you know, I promise the judges the same thing."},{"start":95.61,"end":100.37,"text":"I think personal appeal is what contributes to a destination."},{"start":102.07,"end":106.85,"text":"I think personal appeal is our goal, and our social security, our environment, and the state of the scene."},{"start":106.87,"end":110.53,"text":"And that's much better than just sitting there saying, what am I going to get?"},{"start":110.57,"end":112.69,"text":"Much better than contributing to our system."},{"start":112.71,"end":115.52,"text":"Oh, and first, we're getting those kids going up and down."},{"start":115.54,"end":116.7,"text":"Is that the only thing we can afford?"},{"start":116.72,"end":118.4,"text":"I don't think it has to go up and down."},{"start":118.42,"end":120.42,"text":"I think it's the only government with the best systems in the world."},{"start":121.08,"end":122.38,"text":"You wouldn't have to go much more."},{"start":122.4,"end":123.72,"text":"Now, that would be cash."},{"start":123.74,"end":126.58,"text":"But where do they have the health insurance?"},{"start":127.58,"end":128.34,"text":"Oh, I understand that."},{"start":128.4,"end":129.46,"text":"That's managed cash."},{"start":130.04,"end":130.26,"text":"Yeah."},{"start":130.36,"end":131.81,"text":"I think it's really a service."},{"start":133.81,"end":138.03,"text":"And particularly when we have the inflation, the inflation equalize, right?"},{"start":138.13,"end":138.49,"text":"And that's it."},{"start":138.53,"end":139.59,"text":"And that's it now."},{"start":139.71,"end":139.99,"text":"Right."},{"start":140.17,"end":142.83,"text":"So they won't have to catch up."},{"start":142.91,"end":148.41,"text":"So the rate is sufficient well into the next century."},{"start":150.22,"end":151.96,"text":"I feel great about that."},{"start":151.98,"end":153.22,"text":"I think it's great."},{"start":153.29,"end":156.79,"text":"We're just taking all those older people and saying, God bless you."},{"start":158.32,"end":160.92,"text":"You should say worse things to all of us."},{"start":161.28,"end":161.98,"text":"Yes, I know."},{"start":162.14,"end":164.82,"text":"We're glad to see you, and I just wish you the very best."},{"start":165.06,"end":165.76,"text":"Thank you."},{"start":166.12,"end":166.5,"text":"Thank you."},{"start":166.58,"end":168.24,"text":"That's the cruel that Julie did in 1969."},{"start":168.38,"end":169.44,"text":"Oh, yes, that's true."},{"start":169.46,"end":171.16,"text":"Oh, I didn't want to worry you."},{"start":171.22,"end":174.29,"text":"That's the only thing a person can do on their own."},{"start":174.53,"end":175.91,"text":"All right."},{"start":177.79,"end":178.93,"text":"That is right."},{"start":178.95,"end":179.55,"text":"Very good."},{"start":179.71,"end":180.03,"text":"Goodbye."},{"start":180.09,"end":180.37,"text":"Goodbye."}],"aiSummary":{"text":"President Nixon met with Social Security Commissioner Robert Ball and his wife for a courtesy visit that included an official photograph session and an informal discussion about the Social Security program. The conversation touched upon the administration's support for the program's long-term sustainability, the necessity of addressing the impact of inflation on recipients, and the value of self-help initiatives. Nixon praised Ball’s professional competence and integrity before concluding the meeting with a brief mention of family needlepoint artwork.","topics":["Social Security Administration","Robert Ball","Public Relations","Inflation","Social Policy"],"generatedAt":"2026-04-08T22:42:21.875Z"},"topicSlugs":["social-security-administration","robert-ball","public-relations","inflation","social-policy"],"audioDurationSec":186,"audioFiles":[{"file":"867-033.mp3","bytes":1417216,"durationSec":185.97,"bitrate":60964,"missing":false}],"audioIsShared":false,"audioProbedAt":"2026-09-18T02:20:00.696Z","audio":["https://nixon.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/audio/867-033.mp3"],"url":"https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/867-033","nixonLibraryUrl":"https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/white-house-tapes/867/conversation-867-033","license":"Public domain (U.S. Government work). AI-generated fields (transcript, aiSummary) are provided as-is without warranty."}