Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 887 › Conversation 887-012

Nixon, Farrell & Bedford on Ceremonial meeting and Presidential gifts

Thursday, March 22, 1973 · 12:27 PM–12:32 PM ET · Oval Office · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Farrell, Michael J.; Bedford, Bruce, III (Mrs.)Conversation887-012 on Tape 887StartThursday, March 22, 1973 at 12:27 PMEndThursday, March 22, 1973 at 12:32 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 887-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon held a brief, ceremonial meeting with Mrs. Bruce Bedford, III and Michael J. Farrell, which included a photo session with members of the press. The discussion focused on pleasantries regarding Mrs. Bedford's longevity, her personal history with former presidents, and her general well-being. The President presented Mrs. Bedford with commemorative gifts, including items bearing the presidential seal, and exchanged well wishes for the future.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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What was your birthday?

Thank you.

Oh, no.

Well, I'm the best person.

Thank you.

That's the presidential hymn there.

What it is is the seal.

See the seal in the corner right there?

And there is the pin, which you're going to wire back to here, which is here in the flag.

See the reasons and cards and flags?

So, uh, the most important thing we're going

But do remember me to your beautiful wife, because I have loved you so much.

I have loved you and heard you.

I must say, Reed, you're a sweet, and I think it's great that you're in such good health.

Well, I never thought you'd be so good to me.

I hope that whoever's here on your 100th birthday, that will be number 12.

Okay.

Bye.

NARA Description

On March 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Michael J. Farrell, and Mrs. Bruce Bedford, III met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:27 pm to 12:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 887-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 887-12

Date: March 22, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:27 pm and 12:32 pm
Location: Oval Office
                                             -20-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 887-12 (cont’d)

The President met with Mrs. Bruce Bedford, III and Michael J. Farrell. Members of the press and
White House photographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Mrs. Bedford's meetings with former Presidents
            -Number

       Mrs. Bedford's birthday
            -President's birthday

       Photograph session
            -Mrs. Bedford meetings with former Presidents
                  -Benjamin Harrison
            -President’s chair
            -Quality of life
            -Mothers

       Mrs. Bedford
            -Residence
                  -New Jersey
                       -President's visits
                             -Campaigning

       Presidential gifts
             -Seal
                   -Flag
             -Cufflinks
             -Photographs
                   -Copies

       Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
            -Mrs. Bedford's best wishes

       Mrs. Bedford
            -Health
            -Age
            -Golf
            -Interests
            -Future presidents
                                                -21-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                              Conversation No. 887-12 (cont’d)

Mrs. Bedford et al., left at 12:32 pm.

Also recorded on March 22, 1973

887-008 12:12 PM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:12 pm.
887-009 12:12 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Geoffrey C. Shepard met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:12 pm.
887-010 12:12 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond P. Shafer, Geoffrey C. Shepard, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Henry Brill, Jane Cooney, Charles O. Galvin, John A. Howard, Maurice H. Seevers, J. Thomas Underleider, Mitchell Ware, and Dona L. Farnsworth met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:12 pm to 12:27 pm.
887-011 12:27 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Michael J. Farrell met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:27 pm.
887-013 12:32 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Max L. Friedersdorf, and Caldwell Butler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:32 pm to 12:35 pm.
887-014 12:35 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William J. ("Jack") Edwards, Oliver Delchamps, Jr., William J. Hearin, Jr., Albert Weiskopf, and Richard K. Cook met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:35 pm to 12:47 pm.
887-015 12:47 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:47 pm and 12:48 pm.
887-016 12:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Herbert G. Klein, Tom Hall, Mrs. Tom Hall, Hall, and Mrs. Herbert G. Klein met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:49 pm to 12:53 pm.

All 71 conversations from March 22, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 887-012, March 22, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/887-012 (accessed October 2, 2026).