NIXON TAPES: Don't Get Social with Reporters (Pat Nixon)

Pat Nixon
October 7, 1971
010-123
White House Telephone

President Richard Nixon talks with his wife, First Lady Pat Nixon. They discuss upcoming receptions in honor of White House Correspondent Helen Thomas' marriage. Nixon stresses that he does not want to spend time with the press on a social basis.

At the previous White House worship service, Billy Graham and Secretary of the Treasury John Connally suggested to Nixon that he did not need to stand in a receiving line shaking people's hands after the services. Not a people-person anyway, Nixon originally had liked the idea but Pat Nixon thinks they should shake hands. Nixon quickly agrees. In an earlier conversation Nixon had indicated that he didn't want to shake hands, as you can hear in this conversation with his Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnzrnnI6g60

Nixon also notes that he will be late for dinner because he has an important broadcast to give about Soviet negotiations.

(Photo: Pat and Richard Nixon on their campaign plane, 1968.)

(NARA censors beeped out part of this conversation as "personal returnable." It is represented here by an approximately 5 second beep.)

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[armani11280]

Pat Nixon seems like such a sweet person who was genuinely concerned that visitors to the White House had a special experience. What a nice lady, whatever you think of her husband.

[wonkacorp]

no-one wants to shake the pastor's wife's hand...not even the pastor! what a hoot!

[KultureJamCollective]

Helen Thomas even giving the Nixons hell. Go Helen!!!