Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-112
Nixon phone call with Smith on New Year's greetings
Friday, December 31, 1971 · 7:55 PM–7:59 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min
AI Summary
President Nixon held an informal telephone conversation with C. Arnholt Smith and his wife, Helen, to exchange New Year's greetings. The discussion touched upon upcoming political logistics, including the scheduling of Republican conventions and the promotion of San Diego as a venue. The parties also engaged in casual pleasantries regarding personal matters and political activities.
- New Year's greetings
- Republican National Convention
- San Diego
- Political campaigning
- C. Arnholt Smith
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On December 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and C. Arnholt Smith talked on the telephone from 7:55 pm to 7:59 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-112 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-112
Date: December 31, 1971
Time: 7:55 pm - 7:59 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with C. Arnholt Smith.
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/22/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-112-w001]
[Duration: 1m 2s]
Convention
-Hotel
-Filling the hotel
-Republicans
-Headquarters
-The President’s schedule
-San Clemente
-Speech
-Hotel
-Encouraging use
**********************************************************************
Mrs. Helen Smith joined the conversation.
President’s location
New Year greetings
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/22/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-112-w002]
[Duration: 1m 39s]
Campaign
-Schedule
-Women voters
Previous Republican Convention
-Miami
-Helen Smith on the President’s staff
-Ronald Reagan delegation
-C. Arnholt Smith
-C. Arnholt and Helen Smith marriage
-Honeymoon
Convention
-The Smiths’ participation
-San Diego
The Smiths’ horses
The Smiths’ political activities
Well wishes to [Unknown Person]
**********************************************************************Also recorded on January 1, 1972
- 017-109 7:40 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 7:40 pm to 7:46 pm.
- 017-110 7:47 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Taft Schreiber talked on the telephone from 7:47 pm to 7:49 pm.
- 017-111 7:49 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:49 pm and 7:55 pm.
- 017-113 7:59 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:59 pm and 8:14 pm.
- 017-114 7:59 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:59 pm and 8:14 pm.
- 017-115 8:14 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Paul W. Keyes talked on the telephone from 8:14 pm to 8:16 pm.
- 311-001 9:05 PM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:05 pm and 9:08 pm.
- 017-116 9:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Elmer H. Bobst talked on the telephone from 9:08 pm to 9:11 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 017-112, January 1, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-112 (accessed September 27, 2026).