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Conversation 949-009

TapeTape 949StartThursday, July 12, 1973 at 4:25 PMEndThursday, July 12, 1973 at 4:30 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bland, Richard E.;  McClennan, W. Howard;  Tipton, Howard D.;  Mead, Dana G.;  Scott, Walter D.;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AudioNARA Description

On July 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Richard E. Bland, W. Howard McClennan, Howard D. Tipton, Dana G. Mead, Walter D. Scott, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:25 pm to 4:30 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 949-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 949-9

Date: July 12, 1973
Time: 4:25 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Richard E. Bland, W. Howard McClennan, Howard D. Tipton, Dana G.
Mead, and Walter D. Scott. The White House photographer was present at the beginning of the
meeting.

       Introductions
                                        -25-

             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                (rev. October-2012)

                                                         Conversation No. 949-9 (cont’d)

Arrangements for photograph

Presentation of report entitled America Burning to President

Volunteer firemen
      -State College, Pennsylvania

Chancellor of Pennsylvania State University
      -Cancer

Volunteer firemen
      -Fires in California
              -Rolling Hills, California
                      -President’s friend’s house

Report
         -Forest fires
         -Legislation
         -Program cost
         -Fire prevention compared to fire suppression
         -Work with Richard Dale [?]
         -Effectiveness
         -Photographs

Presentation of gifts by President
       -Cuff links
       -Girlfriend, secretary, wife

Weather

Forest fires
        -President’s travels
               -Silverado, California
        -Cigarettes

Fireplaces
       -Report
                                             -26-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. October-2012)

                                                              Conversation No. 949-9 (cont’d)

                -Safety
                -President’s use

        Football
               -Unknown man’s experience
                      -Southern California
                      -Redlands University
                      -Cornerback [?]
                      -Jack F. Kemp
               -President’s experience at Whittier College
                      -Redlands University
                      -Ben Sheehan [?]
                              -Coach
                      -Thanksgiving Day game
               -University of Southern California-Notre Dame football game
                      -Knute Rockney [?]
                      -Notre Dame’s 23-game winning streak
                      -Johnny Baker’s field goal

        Redlands University
              -Number of students
                     -Compared to Whittier
              -Unknown man’s experience
                     -Weight
                     -Cornerback [?]

Bland, et al., left at 4:30 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.

All right.
All right.
All right.
to America.
Yes, sir.
Please.
We gave them two years to treat it, and we're proud of you for a long time.
The applause that you've given to us, I think we completely fulfill the responsibility of the charge.
We appreciate your support and consideration of your administration.
We think there's something very positive in you.
Tell me this about the fall.
all kinds of volunteer environments.
Yes, sir.
Are they creating a volunteer chief in state college?
That's a big mover.
State college?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Senator Stephen Hill.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
I have a thought there.
I think it's probably trying to disabuse that.
I'm going to mark it.
I'm going to mark it.
We're out there.
And you're in the building on the Nixon farm the other day, just in the store.
Yeah.
But on this business, tell me about the, uh...
The reason I ask about the bomb material is I, uh...
I saw...
I don't know if I heard it happening.
You know, Rolling Hills, California, a very, very expensive place.
And my friends, they're good friends that live right next door.
They've all gone.
The flames came right next to their house.
Very difficult.
But you cover such things as forest fires.
Yes, sir.
We cover forest fires.
We try to cover the entire fire problem as comprehensive a fashion as we could in two years.
We believe it will be a cost effective program.
We want to reorient if we can from fire suppression towards fire prevention.
Well, thank you for your life and work.
I've never enjoyed anything more than... Don't say you enjoy it.
I certainly have.
All you have to do is to knock your electric tables off and you run with it.
Well, that's very nice of you.
It's really about your career being able to do a good job.
That's what you're saying, Mr. Mann.
Very.
An engineer's that effective in a big change, isn't it?
Well, certainly one that does a good job.
Well, do you know of the people that fight fires, you know?
It's a concern.
It must be a frustrating job, this program you're sitting around on fire.
Come on.
thank you very much
For wives, you see the seal over there?
Yes, sir.
You see it there?
Yes, sir.
The mark of the shirt.
There it is.
You should appreciate that.
I'm part secretary of law.
I'm part secretary of law.
You're part of the secretary's office.
We'll do.
That's not a good idea.
No.
God bless you.
We're very happy to have you with us.
Right.
We wish you the best.
Thank you.
Washington, you're here.
Glory to God.
You know, they're no older.
Do they ever have forest fires in Houston?
I'm not in the sense that you have a job.
We don't have to count the wrong places.
I've noticed that there's a neat sign inside the drive at the end of the day.
I don't know if you've covered some things, but I noticed a sign up there.
There's still a rod right up on the line.
It's very, very dry at the time.
And it says, no smoking, even in our homes.
Even in our own homes.
It would seem to me that in a place that bright, the fireplace would not be allowed.
Or is the fireplace?
Not the fire hazard, sure.
No, but it seems to me, if you light a fire in a fireplace, it goes up quite a lot, but you've got a lot of crush.
No, the report points out that there are three causes of fire, wind and wind and sugar.
And it's the careless, it's the misuse of fire that gets us in trouble, and the fireplace, inherently, is very safe.
If you misuse it, you're in trouble.
I support fire safety.
Yes, of course.
I mean, I was a third stringer, but I got another two brotherly schemes.
Only after they were hopelessly won or hopelessly lost, that's when the achievement of the achievement was our coach says.
But it was a great rivalry.
This one, we used to play usually Thanksgiving Day in those days.
And I remember one time, I remember this was interesting to you, you didn't tell me to remember this, but there was a very great football game that was played between Southern Cal
And Notre Dame, that's early in the series, this is the time that right at the clock, it's definitely happening as a coach.
Notre Dame have been undefeated for 23 games.
They came into the fourth quarter 14 to nothing over Southern Cal.
And Southern Cal came back and scored two touchdowns.
And then Johnny Baker.
And I'll never forget the chief who was from Sutter County.
They were riding in the bus for a minute.
He said, they are just .
We all know nothing about Sutter County.
It's a great, great university.
How many students do you have at Redwoods now?
That's enough.
That's enough.
That's such a beautiful location.
It has the kind of college that not only has academic standards, but maintains some religious background.
Even if they're bad.
Thank you.
Thanks very much.
You were very kind.
Oh, you're big enough.
Good luck.
Good luck to you.
Thank you for coming.
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