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Conversation 019-054

TapeTape 19StartMonday, January 24, 1972 at 4:59 PMEndMonday, January 24, 1972 at 5:02 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White, William S.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this phone call with columnist William S. White to personally offer well wishes following White's recent hospitalization for a spinal fusion. The conversation served primarily as a professional courtesy, during which White updated the President on his recovery and return to work. Nixon expressed his relief at White's improved health and communicated his continued interest in reading the journalist's future columns.

William S. WhiteRichard NixonJournalismHealthWhite House communications
AudioNARA Description

On January 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and William S. White talked on the telephone from 4:59 pm to 5:02 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-054 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 19-54

Date: January 24, 1972
Time: 4:59 pm - 5:02 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William S. White.

[See Conversation No. 654-1A]

     White's health
          -The President's conversation with Patrick J. Buchanan
          -Status
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
Mr. White, sir.
Yeah.
Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
Bill, I want you to know that I just learned from Pat Buchanan over the weekend that you'd been in the hospital, and I just wanted to wish you well and tell you that, well, it was probably...
a great deal of discomfort that I never heard of anybody dying because of a back operation.
So, how are you feeling?
I'm fine now, Mr. President.
I had a spinal fusion I'd been having for a long time, and they got rid of it, and I'm just fine.
Does it help your headache thing, then?
Yes, it's all over.
Isn't that something?
Those operations are...
In the past, it's been pretty tricky.
Well, it was a little tricky, and it held me up.
It immobilized me a little longer than I'd expected.
I was out seven weeks, but I've been back a couple of weeks, and everything's fine.
Fine.
Well, I'm sure glad to hear that, and we'll sure be looking forward to reading you.
I always do.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Very kind.
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