← 921-013921-015 →

Conversation 921-014

TapeTape 921StartThursday, May 17, 1973 at 12:03 PMEndThursday, May 17, 1973 at 12:13 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Noel, Mrs. Cleo (Mrs.);  Moore, Mrs. G. Curtis (Mrs.);  Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.);  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AudioNARA Description

On May 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Mrs. Cleo Noel, Mrs. Mrs. G. Curtis Moore, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:03 pm to 12:13 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 921-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 921-14

Date: May 17, 1973
Time: 12:03 pm - 12:13 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mrs. Cleo Noel, Mrs. G. Curtis Moore and Brent G. Scowcroft. The
                                              -29-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. August-2011)

White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Introductions

       Arrangements for photographs

       US foreign policy
              -Presisdent’s meeting with Mustafizur Siddiqui
                      -Bangladesh
              -US role
                      -Tolerance
                      -Soviet Union
                      -People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                      -Salvation
              -Power
                      -Limitations

       Deaths of Cleo A. Noel, Jr. and George Curtis Moore
              -Suffering of families
              -Terrorism
              -Sudanese government action
              -Action in United Nations [UN]
                      -Terrorism
                              -International sanctions
                              -Arab block

       Calls to President

       Terrorism
              -Soviet Union
                      -US pressure
                      -Leonid I. Brezhnev
                      -Tactics
                             -Effectiveness
              -Israel
                      -Tactics
                             -Effectiveness
              -Lebanon
                                      -30-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                (rev. August-2011)

              -Revolutionaries
                      -Black September
                      -Effect on Middle East
       -Arab-Israel relations
              -Egypt
              -Jordan

US foreign policy
       -Middle East
              -Arab-Israel relations
              -Negotiations with Soviet Union
              -Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
                     -Le Duc Tho
                     -Egypt
                     -Hafez Ismail
                     -Leaks
                     -Press coverage

Deaths of Noel and Moore
       -US government assistance to families
              -Accommodations for families
                      -Blair House
                      -Children
       -US foreign policy
              -Peace
              -Sacrifice

Residences of Mrs. Noel and Mrs. Moore
       -Washington, DC
       -President’s former residence
              -Spring Valley
              -Wagshal’s Delicatessen

Presentation of gifts by President
       -Pens
       -Gifts for children
       -Cufflinks
                                              -31-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. August-2011)

       Weather
             -President’s summer activities
             -Washington, DC climate
             -Sequoia

Noel et al. left at 12:13 pm.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Mr. President, Mr. President, this is Noel.
How do you do this, Noel?
This is Mark.
This is Mark.
How do you do this?
How do you do this?
We're glad to welcome you under these circumstances.
Thank you.
I've got a picture.
Well, you can get a second one so that they can have it for their files.
So it's customary enough.
So what about this one?
the new prime minister of Bangladesh.
He said, you know, you're the most horrible country in the world.
You're able to do some great things with Russia and China.
He says, you can really settle the problems of salvation.
But we can't.
Of course, we will try.
And so forth and so on.
But he ended his office with his bars.
and it's limitations because we think of your husbands, of you and your families, and also of others who under certain circumstances we wish did not exist in the world in which you have undergone a great deal of suffering.
But I just want to personally .
I wish we could do more.
I wish we could bring them back.
I wish we could get the terrorists at least to, well, you probably know the government in Sudan is backing down now on the one half of the terrorists.
They're backing down probably because they're scared to death of what will happen to them if they do.
I don't think that's an overstatement, but that's the way I read the three defendants.
The second point is, though, that we are continuing to press in the United Nations for getting some more effective international, shall we say, sanctions against terrorists in general.
It's hard to do, hard to do, because you've got the whole Arab bloc, and you've got the
And we're putting the heat to pressure on them at this point, among many others.
And they, of course, they deal with it so ruthlessly.
And, of course, the Israelis deal with it quite ruthlessly and effectively.
But in our case, we have a
We have a major problem, you know, trying to get their support.
But you look at the problem in Lebanon today.
That's a country that's torn apart.
I mean, they're neither of you could stitch it in love.
You know, they're nice countries and people.
You know, those poor people who tore it apart because of these damnable, you know, revolutionaries.
whether it's the Black Septembers, or whoever it is, but you know, it poisons the whole Mideast.
I guess what it really gets down to, as far as the incident involved here, what it really gets down to, of course, is the problem which weighs so heavily on our minds, it's not aware of this really problem.
Until that is solved, it's going to be one terrible problem out there, and here,
We've got a very tough situation with these raids, believe it or not.
I have talked to Mrs. Meyer in this room as strongly as I possibly could.
And, of course, the Egyptians and the, well, actually the Georgians are pretty reasonable with the Egyptians in Utah, but there are just some.
But I can only say in conclusion that
The best thing I hope that you contribute, apart from working on terrorism and so forth, which we realize is how we handle things on an individual basis, is to try to get at the heart of the problem that caused it in this instance, and that is the Israeli Arabs.
And that's high on the agenda this year.
We're talking to Russians about it when they come, and of course talks are going to go on.
That's all forever.
It'll get out in Egypt, you see.
Everything.
So you'll probably read the papers before you get here.
It's supposed to be done until he gets here.
But those are my, I just want to express those comments to you, to say that if there's anything our government can do for you and your family,
Everyone's been extremely helpful, Mr. Preston.
Well, helpful, I know, I know.
I mean, I know somebody said that you appreciate staying at Blair House and the rest.
So little.
So little.
I mean, I know what you... You must think, you know, at a time like this, I mean, you know, here's...
So you're at Blair House.
And you think of that already, you'll be trying to...
But, it will pass.
It will pass.
You will... You and your children will...
I have so much to be proud of.
And all that I can say is we were trying to work for a heart and peaceful world, which is, I think, is what your husband gave their lives for.
And I'm going to try to do that.
Where do you both live now?
Tell me how you live.
In Washington River.
Oh, you live in this city, right?
Mm-hmm.
It's been home for a good many years, you know.
Been abroad most of the time.
Will you continue to live here?
I think so.
Mm-hmm.
You like it?
I like that too.
You like it?
I like it.
Do you live in the area or in the city?
The city?
Georgetown?
No.
Northwest.
Northwest?
Oh, I used to live there.
Spring Valley, let's see where else.
Western Heights, it's a lovely country.
Wedding?
Hostel?
Still going.
Yeah.
The, uh, I'd like to give you a little bit of a mental order.
This doesn't get you, but that's fine.
We have the, uh, uh, silver here.
Yeah.
I have two daughters.
Two daughters, how old?
21 and a son and a daughter the same age.
Well, two daughters.
That's another one.
Those are your two daughters.
Do you have a son?
Well, then he gets a couple.
We, uh, we, uh, we, uh, we have a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little, a little.
long, long evenings, you know, you get through the horrible thing, and we're all inside anyway, but it's evenings, you know, what we do, and then maybe you can get out, and you can sit outside, or we have this boat, Sequoia, and you get out, and you get a little ride in the river, it's just a lot, and although it's a filthy river, it's sort of nice to have the breeze in there, so Washington, Summers, and all that kind of thing.
In fact, the Washington Plain is something everybody talks about,
Look what you're doing, man.
On the street, before you come back to California, I wish you the best.
Well, I wish you the best, and nice of you to come in.
Thank you very much.
Take care of these ladies.
This is something everybody talks about.
Look what you're doing, man.
Thank you very much.
← 921-013921-015 →