Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-065

Nixon phone call with Graham on Christmas and White House visit

Saturday, December 25, 1971 · 9:57 AM–9:58 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Graham, William F. ("Billy")Conversation017-065 on Tape 17 (tape position 02:47:24–02:48:37)StartSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 9:57 AMEndSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 9:58 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-065 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Reverend Billy Graham exchanged Christmas greetings and briefly discussed Graham's recent television appearance regarding the White House holiday celebration. The two confirmed plans for Graham and his wife, Ruth, to visit the White House on the following Friday. During the exchange, Nixon also jokingly advised Graham to ensure his wife remained ideologically conservative.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I was watching you on television last night, and that was absolutely fantastic, that Christmas at the White House.
Well, did you see that thing?
I didn't get to see it.
I was on the phone, but...
Oh, is that right?
Yeah.
Well, Merry Christmas to you.
You'll be up.
When will you get here?
Friday, right.
Well, come in the night because the night is the time to see it.
I'll be in Florida and be back.
When do you leave, Cindy?
The 1st.
That's right.
Oh, yeah, you'll be here Friday.
Well, I'll be back Friday afternoon myself, so I'll probably see you.
Okay.
Well, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you, sir, and God bless you.
Fine.
You tell Ruth not to get too liberal.
All right.
Well, she still reads human events, but she doesn't always agree with them.
Okay, all right.
Okay, bye.
All right.

NARA Description

On December 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 9:57 am to 9:58 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-065 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 17-65

Date: December 25, 1971
Time: 9:57 am - 9:58 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William F. (“Billy”) Graham.

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.

Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-065-w001]
[Duration: 9s]

     William F. (“Billy”) Graham’s gift to the President
          -Sweater
          -Golf

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

     "Christmas at the White House" on television
          -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] news
          -President playing with dogs

     Greetings

     Graham coming to White House on Friday
          -Ruth McC. (Beall) Graham

     Graham's schedule
          -Timing

     President's schedule
          -Timing

     Mrs. Graham
          -Human Events

Also recorded on December 25, 1971

  • 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.
  • 017-064 9:53 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Lenore L. Romney, and George W. Romney talked on the telephone from 9:53 am to 9:56 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.
  • 017-070 10:14 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Frank B. Rackley, and Marguerite Rackley talked on the telephone from 10:14 am to 10:16 am.

All 57 conversations from December 25, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 017-065, 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/017-065 (accessed September 18, 2026).