Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 915 › Conversation 915-014

Nixon, Balzano & Wiens on swearing-in ceremony and Oval Office

Thursday, May 10, 1973 · 12:06 PM–12:15 PM ET · Oval Office · 17 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Balzano, Michael P.; Balzano, Denise I. (Wiens); Wiens, Isable; MacMichael, Mrs. John L. (Mrs.); Allers, Stephen; Mazewski, Aloysius; Scumaci, Frank; Revisto, Michael A.; Nunzio, Nicholas S.; White House photographer; Members of the pressConversation915-014 on Tape 915StartThursday, May 10, 1973 at 12:06 PMEndThursday, May 10, 1973 at 12:15 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 915-014 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Michael P. Balzano and a group of his family and associates in the Oval Office to conduct a ceremonial swearing-in for Balzano. The brief interaction included photo opportunities with the press and the presentation of commemorative gifts, such as presidential cufflinks and pins. The conversation centered on the logistical arrangements for the ceremony and expressions of pride regarding Balzano's new leadership role.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Thank you.
And I know when I was born in America, the first time I had three.
The whole family and my mother's brother.
I mean, I mean, I mean,
Thank you.
How are you?
Thank you.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
You flag.
It's just weird.
Judges are swearing in the direction of action.
And if you expect them not to get it, move the signature to your desk here.
And is this for me?
So when you get away this night, the way to put it, when it's early this night, you should be here.
And don't shoot.
Okay.
All right.
Sure.
Now.
Now, pick up.
Now, pick up.
So let's hear a little bit of that.
Okay.
Okay.
I need you to sign me up with a name for a group of eight.
I'm sure, I'm sure.
that anybody, that anybody in this country, in this country, in this country, take off, take off, take off, take off, take off, take off, take off, take off.
Thank you very much.
How are you?
Thank you.
This is uh, this is uh, this is uh, this is uh, this is uh, this is uh,
Is this for me?
Is this for me?
Is this for me?
Is this for me?
Is this for me?
Is this for me?
Face up.
Face up.
Face up.
Face up.
Face up.
Face up.
Face up.
Okay.
OK, I can make it work.
Wait in time.
OK, I can make it work.
Wait in time.
OK, I can make it work.
Wait in time.
OK, I can make it work.
Wait in time.
I know.

NARA Description

On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Michael P. Balzano, Denise I. (Wiens) Balzano, Isable Wiens, Mrs. Mrs. John L. MacMichael, Stephen Allers, Aloysius Mazewski, Frank Scumaci, Michael A. Revisto, Nicholas S. Nunzio, White House photographer, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:06 pm to 12:15 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 915-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 915-14

Date: May 10, 1973
Time: 12:06 pm - 12:15 pm
Location: Oval Office

An unknown man met with Michael P. Balzano, Jr., Denise I. (Wiens) Balzano, Isabel Wiens,
Mrs. John L. MacMichael, Stephen Allers, Aloysius Mazewski, Frank Scumaci, Micahel A.
Revisto, and Nicholas S. Nunzio. The White House photographer and members of the press
                                                -25-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 915-14 (cont’d)

were present at the beginning of the meeting.

      Arrangements

      [General conversation]

      Arrangements
           -Placement for photographers

The President entered at an unknown time after 12:06 pm.

      Bibles
            -Balzano’s personal Bible
            -Swearing-in
            -President’s swearing-in

      Swearing-in of Balzano

      Balzano
           -Pride
           -ACTION
           -Hope
           -Leadership

      [General conversation]

      Arrangements for photographs

      Presentation of gifts by the President
           -Cufflinks, pins

      [General conversation]

Balzano et al. left at 12:15 pm.
                                           -26-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 10, 1973

  • 915-013 12:05 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:05 pm.
  • 915-015 12:15 PM · 7 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 12:21 pm.
  • 915-016 12:15 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Gene Taylor, Dewey J. Short, and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:21 pm.
  • 915-017 12:21 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:21 pm and 12:31 pm.
  • 915-018 12:21 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 12:21 pm and 12:31 pm.
  • 915-019 12:21 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:21 pm and 12:31 pm.
  • 915-020 12:31 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:31 pm to 12:45 pm.
  • 433-080 12:50 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:50 pm and 12:55 pm.

All 86 conversations from May 10, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 915-014, May 10, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/915-014 (accessed October 12, 2026).