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Conversation 921-018

TapeTape 921StartThursday, May 17, 1973 at 12:21 PMEndThursday, May 17, 1973 at 12:25 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Clancy, Donald D.;  Cornett, Chester;  Donovan, Thomas;  Donovan, Thomas (Mrs.);  Donovan, Danny;  Donovan, Betsy;  Donovan, Shawn;  Friedersdorf, Max L.;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Congressman Donald D. Clancy, artisan Chester Cornett, and the Donovan family to accept a hand-carved chair presented to him as a gesture of admiration. The President engaged with the family and the photographer to arrange for commemorative photos to be shared with the guests. During the brief interaction, Nixon discussed his ongoing diplomatic efforts, including upcoming meetings with representatives from the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, expressing a desire to secure a peaceful world for the younger generation.

White House ceremonial eventsHand-carved furniturePublic relationsForeign policyNixon family visits
AudioNARA Description

On May 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Donald D. Clancy, Chester Cornett, Thomas Donovan, Mrs. Thomas Donovan, Danny Donovan, Betsy Donovan, Shawn Donovan, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:21 pm to 12:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 921-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 921-18

Date: May 17, 1973
Time: 12:21 pm - 12:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Donald D. Clancy, Chester Cornett, Thomas Donovan, Mrs. Thomas
Donovan, Danny Donovan, Betsy Donovan, Shawn Donovan and Max L. Friedersdorf. The
White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

      Introductions

      Arrangements for photo

      Chair
              -Description

      Donavan family
            -Indiana
            -Chair
                                              -33-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. August-2011)

                      -Log
                      -Hand carved
               -University of Indiana
               -University of Cincinatti

       Arrangements for photograph

       President
              -Description of role as Vice President
              -Future meetings
              -Soviet Union
              -People’s Republic of China

Clancy et al. left at 12:25 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, Congressman Clancy.
Tom Clancy, services.
Oh, Don.
How are you?
Hi.
How are you, Mr. President?
Glad to see you.
Mr. President here.
Mr. Cornyn.
How are you doing, Mr. Cornyn?
Glad to meet you.
Yes, sir.
Well, now, you come on over here.
We're going to get a picture of this chair, which is such a doable art of work across the ship.
And, uh, here we are.
You did this all yourself, Tom?
Yeah, yeah.
Let's get a little closer, Tom.
I don't want you in the picture, too, here.
I'll stand right here.
Mr. President, this is the Donovan family of Cincinnati.
This is Mr. and Mrs. Tom Donovan and Sean Donovan.
They're our children.
All right.
They drove all night to help us.
They're right here.
They're with me.
Okay.
All right.
Mr. Anthony.
How are you?
This boy here is Frank.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I didn't try to meet you.
That's right.
You stand over in front of me.
There you go.
Well, we're glad to meet you.
Would that you call me some pictures, would that be?
Thank you, thank you.
So that each family can have one.
Why don't you take them to school?
I should, but that's what they'll do.
You're going to copy them pictures you've taken to school.
I don't know, I think you're going to take one.
That's right.
He's a bright boy.
You will see that we're going to get the pictures to the Congressman's office, and you see that they're distributing it to folks.
You can make up a batch, can't you?
I'll tell you about it.
We can do something about it.
Is that what you want to say?
I don't know what will happen.
Mr. President, he just wants to take a second to express his feelings.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Why good, but you sure have done a good job.
Thank you.
Say thank you.
Thank you very much.
We've got more to do.
We've got to meet with the Russians next month and the Chinese and a few other people.
But maybe we can make it the same in the world for these kids.
I sure appreciate it.
He's done this completely out of admiration for you.
There's been nothing other, anything else involved in this.
He's had this locked in a room for months, and it's taken me over a year to get his trust up to where we could get it up here.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Good luck to you, boy.
All right.
Thanks for your help.
Goodbye.
Have a nice, pleasant morning.
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