Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 911 › Conversation 911-027

Nixon, Helms & Adams on North Carolina delegation and Ceremonial visit

Thursday, May 3, 1973 · 11:59 AM–12:05 PM ET · Oval Office · 6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Helms, Jesse A.; Adams, C. Morris; Maxwell, Richard; Hawkins, John; Bencini, William; Martin, Barbara; Herring, Harold; Murrow, Coolidge C.; Timmons, William E.; Friedersdorf, Max L.; Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie")Conversation911-027 on Tape 911StartThursday, May 3, 1973 at 11:59 AMEndThursday, May 3, 1973 at 12:05 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 911-027 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Senator Jesse Helms and a delegation of North Carolina officials to host a brief ceremonial visit in the Oval Office. The participants engaged in informal introductions, presented the President with cuff links as a token of appreciation, and discussed the President's ongoing policy initiatives regarding the Supreme Court, China, and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). The meeting concluded with the President reciprocating by presenting the group with official mementos.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Center, center, center.
We certainly have no intention
I appreciate it.
Let me tell you that I'm not going to let you get out of here without my giving you something.
The seal of that floor.
Thank you.
And then I remember I went wrong and I became a news reporter.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Jesse A. Helms, C. Morris Adams, Richard Maxwell, John Hawkins, William Bencini, Barbara Martin, Harold Herring, Coolidge C. Murrow, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:59 am to 12:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 911-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 911-27

Date: May 3, 1973
Time: 11:59 am - 12:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Jesse Helms, C. Morris Adams, Richard Maxwell, John Hawkins,
William Bencini, Barbara Martin, Harold Herring, Coolidge C. Murrow, William E. Timmons,
                                              -39-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                              Conversation No. 911-33 (cont’d)

Max L. Friedersdorf, and Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins.

       Introductions
              -Helms
              -Greensboro, North Carolina
              -Murrow
                     -General Assembly
              -Maxwell
                     -County Commissioner
              -Bencini
                     -Mayor of High Point, North Carolina
              -Hawkins
                     -Campaign manager
                     -Gilford County, North Carolina

       Arrangements for photograph
             -Atkins

       Presentation of cuff links to President
              -President’s visit to Gilford County, North Carolina
                      -Loss of cuff link
              -President’s efforts at governing nation
                      -Supreme Court
                      -People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                      -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]

       Presentation of gifts by President

       [General conversation]
              -Martin’s recollection
                     -Herbert G. Klein
                     -News reporter
                     -Charlie Porter [?]

Helms et al. left at 12:05 pm.
                                                 -40-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                                 Conversation No. 911-33 (cont’d)

Also recorded on May 3, 1973

  • 911-024 11:25 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Edward J. Derwinski, Mabel Liang, Yuan Liang, Mrs. Yuan Liang, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:25 am to 11:28 am.
  • 911-025 11:28 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:30 am.
  • 911-026 11:28 AM · 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Leonard Garment, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:59 am.
  • 911-028 12:05 PM · 54 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:05 pm.
  • 911-029 12:13 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:13 pm and 12:15 pm.
  • 911-030 12:15 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:18 pm.
  • 911-031 12:18 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:18 pm to 12:24 pm.
  • 911-032 12:24 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:24 pm to 12:40 pm.

All 42 conversations from May 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 911-027, May 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/911-027 (accessed October 5, 2026).