Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 9 › Conversation 009-061

Nixon phone call with Gardella on Television criticism and New York Daily News

Friday, September 17, 1971 · 11:43 AM–11:45 AM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Gardella, KayConversation009-061 on Tape 9 (tape position 01:58:08–01:59:57)StartFriday, September 17, 1971 at 11:43 AMEndFriday, September 17, 1971 at 11:45 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 009-061 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called New York Daily News television critic Kay Gardella to personally express his appreciation for her positive review of a recent television broadcast featuring First Lady Pat Nixon. The discussion touched upon the production quality of the special, specifically praising the location footage from San Clemente. The two also engaged in casual conversation regarding mutual acquaintances at the New York Daily News and discussed upcoming television programming, with Gardella recommending the show "Columbo" to the President.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
I have Miss Gardello on.
Yes.
Miss Gardella?
Yes, sir.
Yes.
I'm just going to tell you how delighted I was with your review of Mrs. Nixon's television broadcast.
Oh, I think that's...
I'm not much of a... As you know, I don't look at much television except for sports because I'm usually busy at other times, but I did see this program, and of course I'm a bit prejudiced, and I thought that Virginia Sherwood, she did a...
I thought it was excellent.
And I thought she...
I particularly thought that, as you pointed out, that the...
to production, those sort of informal scenes around the country and those shots of the Pacific at San Clemente were really great.
But I read it with great interest.
I normally don't see reviews, but somebody brought it in.
I just want you to know that I was...
I greatly appreciated it.
Well, I think that is the nicest thing that's ever happened to me, Dad.
I'm thrilled.
I give my best to all the fellows up there at the news.
Do you know the colonel?
Oh, sure.
He traveled with me in 1952.
I'll ask him if he's keeping his weight down.
Yeah, he's not with us now.
No, he's left?
Yes, he's in public relations.
Oh, well, that's right, he left.
Yeah, Franklin, I remember, yeah.
And, of course, I remember...
So many of the others, the whole group.
Well, I think that's wonderful.
Good to talk to you.
I did love the hour.
I thought it was absolutely beautiful.
You have such a problem, though, having to look at all these shows.
What's going to be the winner this year?
I think Columbo, Peter Falk.
Is that a new one?
Yes, he's a detective, and it's very good.
I recommend it.
Columbo, Columbo.
Well, I'll ask my kids to look it over for me.
Okay.
Oh, thank you so much.
Thank you.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Bye.

NARA Description

On September 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Kay Gardella talked on the telephone from 11:43 am to 11:45 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 009-061 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 9-61

Date: September 17, 1971
Time: 11:43 am - 11:45 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Kay Gardella.

[See Conversation No. 574-8]

     Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's television broadcast
          -Gardella's review
          -The President's television viewing
          -Virginia Sherwood

     New York Daily News
         -The "Colonel"
              -Public relations
         -Frank Coleman

     Gardella's job as a reviewer
          -"Colombo"

                -Peter Falk

Also recorded on September 17, 1971

  • 574-006 11:29 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:29 am to 11:41 am.
  • 574-007 11:41 AM · 27 sec — Alexander P. Butterfield and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:43 am.
  • 574-008 11:41 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, unknown person(s), and Kay Gardella met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:43 am.
  • 009-062 11:45 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 4:28 pm.
  • 574-009 11:45 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jack F. Kemp, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:45 am to 12:01 pm.
  • 574-010 12:01 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:01 pm to 12:05 pm.
  • 574-011 12:05 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Aida L. Gonzalez, Edwin R. Luther, Mrs. Edwin R. Luther, Frank K. Baker, Mrs. Albert E. Crowe, Mabel Marrs, Harold Davis, John Meek, Michael Wilson, Henry C. Cashen, II, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:05 pm to 12:14 pm.
  • 574-012 12:14 PM · 3 min — Alexander P. Butterfield and United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:14 pm and 12:34 pm.

All 48 conversations from September 17, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 009-061, September 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/009-061 (accessed September 21, 2026).