Nixon White House TapesTape 17 › Conversation 017-064

Nixon phone call with Romney on Christmas greetings and Housing policy

Saturday, December 25, 1971 · 9:53 AM–9:56 AM ET · White House Telephone ·3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Romney, Lenore L.;  Romney, George W.Conversation017-064 onTape 17 (tape position 02:44:20–02:47:24)StartSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 9:53 AMEndSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 9:56 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-064 ↗

President Nixon initiated a holiday phone call to George and Lenore Romney to exchange Christmas greetings and commend the recent television special featuring Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Beyond personal pleasantries, the discussion touched on the President's upcoming travel schedule to Florida to meet with Willy Brandt. Nixon also expressed appreciation for Romney's recent work on housing issues, prompting an agreement for Romney to coordinate a follow-up meeting with John Ehrlichman.

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No.
Secretary Romney, Mr. President.
Charge.
Pat and I wanted to send our best to Lenore and you, and...
We sat last night at 11 o'clock and watched the TV show and we thought it was tremendous.
Oh, you saw Julie, did you?
Yes, you.
Oh, yeah.
I didn't look because I never watch this stuff, but I...
I think Julie, she's a... We think she's got a lot of poise, I think.
Yeah, you...
I think most people would remember a grandmother, I don't know.
That's great.
Are you in Michigan?
Yes, we are.
Out at your home.
That's nice.
Which team?
Oh, no, you don't root for any today, do you?
I think I'll root for Kansas City.
I'll be the Redskins tomorrow.
That's right.
I'm for the Redskins.
All right.
Merry Christmas to all of us.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
I know you've had some tough ones in that housing thing, but you really stood up on it, and I appreciate it.
I'll tell you, Mr. President, I need to see you.
I'm working with John early tomorrow.
Well, you know, I have to go down to meet Ron right after Christmas, but if you could keep in touch with John and you can catch me coming or going, we'll be glad to work something in.
Fine?
Good.
Okay, fine.
Goodbye.

On December 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Lenore L. Romney, and George W. Romney talked on the telephone from 9:53 am to 9:56 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-064 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 17-64

Date: December 25, 1971
Time: 9:53 am - 9:56 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Lenore L. and George W. Romney.

     Christmas greetings

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-064-w001]
[Duration: 58s]

     Women in politics
        -Lenore Romney
              -Pat Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox
              -Potential candidacy

**********************************************************************

     Julie Nixon Eisenhower's television show
           “Christmas at the White House”
           -Grandmother
           -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                -Praise for show

     Romney’s location

     Romney’s family

     Football

     Christmas greetings

     Housing
         -John D. Ehrlichman
         -Romney's meeting with the President

     The President's schedule
          -Florida
                -Meeting with Willy Brandt
          -Romney’s proposed meeting with Ehrlichman
  • 017-061 9:34 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rogers C. B. Morton talked on the telephone from 9:34 am to 9:38 am.
  • 017-062 9:39 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John A. Volpe talked on the telephone from 9:39 am to 9:43 am.
  • 017-063 9:45 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 9:45 am to 9:50 am.
  • 017-065 9:57 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 9:57 am to 9:58 am.
  • 017-066 9:58 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:58 am and 10:01 am.
  • 017-067 10:01 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Earl L. Butz talked on the telephone from 10:01 am to 10:02 am.
  • 017-068 10:06 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Claudia A. Johnson talked on the telephone from 10:06 am to 10:08 am.
  • 017-069 10:06 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:08 am.

Conversation 017-064, December 25, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-064 (accessed September 18, 2026).