Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 881 › Conversation 881-010

Nixon & Woods on Philip Timberlake and Inauguration

Friday, March 16, 1973 · 4:52 PM–5:02 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose MaryConversation881-010 on Tape 881StartFriday, March 16, 1973 at 4:52 PMEndFriday, March 16, 1973 at 5:02 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 881-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the personal tragedy surrounding Philip Timberlake and his family, specifically regarding a letter sent to the President. They address the controversy involving a potential civil rights violation claim and the broader social embarrassment such issues could cause during an inauguration. The conversation reflects Nixon’s desire to handle the delicate situation with compassion while acknowledging the gravity of the family's history, including the suicide of Timberlake’s son.

Audio

Download MP3 · 1.2 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

I'm sure she understands.

I can't, I don't know, I don't, I just don't like, I don't like that.

It's too bad.

Well, that's the problem, is that, yes.

That's just, she has left, kept her left arm.

She's the one who made the decision not to come, so she shouldn't have made them say that their rights are violated, if she didn't have them.

I wonder if the Board of Councilmen, what they can do with them, if they do have an inauguration on Thursday.

Listen to that sound.

I didn't know about it.

Did you taste?

It would be an embarrassing thing, wouldn't it?

Oh, sure.

And I think the father, even if he approved of the marriage, would not impose that on you on Inauguration Day.

That would have been a big hit without a lawsuit.

I know that.

I think that's a problem, you know.

And his son has committed suicide.

So you can see what a horrible tragedy it's been.

So I feel for her, and I'd rather she get a little help for her to be understood.

I mean, I don't know.

NARA Description

On March 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:52 pm and 5:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 881-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 881-10

Date: March 16, 1973
Time: Unknown between 4:52 pm and 5:02 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

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

       Philip F. Timberlake’s daughter
             -Letter to President
                   -President’s answer
                          -Situation
                                -Husband
                   -Leonard Garment
                          -Answer
                          -Violation of civil rights
                   -Inauguration
                          -Embarrassment
                          -Press coverage
                   -Timberlake’s health
                   -Philip Timberlake, Jr.
                          -Death
                                              -36-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 881-10 (cont’d)

                  -President’s answer

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

The President and Woods left at 5:02 pm.

Also recorded on March 16, 1973

420-008 2:51 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 3:00 pm.
420-009 2:51 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 3:00 pm.
420-011 3:00 PM · 1 hr 44 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:00 pm to 4:47 pm.
881-008 4:51 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:51 pm to 4:52 pm.
881-009 4:52 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:52 pm and 5:02 pm.
881-011 5:06 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:10 pm.
881-012 5:10 PM · 1 hr 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, John D. Ehrlichman, unknown person(s), Henry A. Kissinger, and Herman Kahn met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:10 pm to 6:43 pm.
881-013 6:43 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 6:43 pm.

All 33 conversations from March 16, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 881-010, March 16, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/881-010 (accessed October 12, 2026).