Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 161 › Conversation 161-002

Sisco & Krell on Camp David and Presidential logistics

Friday, February 2, 1973 · 12:01 AM–3:30 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 2 min

ParticipantsSisco, Frank A.; Krell, Ruth L.Conversation161-002 on Tape 161StartFriday, February 2, 1973 at 12:01 AMEndSaturday, March 3, 1973 at 3:30 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 161-002 ↗

AI Summary

Frank A. Sisco and Ruth L. Krell coordinated logistics regarding the upcoming return of President Nixon to Camp David. They discussed the uncertainty of the President's arrival time and the necessity of maintaining their presence at the location. Sisco advised Krell to contact her supervisor, Alexander P. Butterfield, to determine if their continued attendance was required, and they agreed to touch base the following morning to confirm plans.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 dear.
Hi.
The boss is coming back tomorrow.
Oh is he?
I don't know what time.
I didn't know whether you want to stay up or you want to go back or just what?
Yes, I guess we better stay.
Okay.
Do you know what time?
No, I don't have any idea.
Uh-huh.
Only, will we have to be on the job at 8 o'clock in the morning?
If I was you, I'd sleep in.
Oh, would you?
I'll give you a call when I find out when he's coming up.
Uh-huh.
And you might want to call your boss tomorrow and see if he should come home or what, because I think he's coming up by himself.
Oh, I...
It seems ridiculous for you all to be here with him here by himself.
Yes, I see.
So you think I ought to check with my boss to find out?
Yeah, I would.
Unless you just want to stay up, we'll welcome you.
Well, who is it that says whether we should come or not?
Mr. Butterfield's the only one I know.
Oh, uh-huh.
Because I never can find out.
The aide never knows.
No, and I don't know.
She just tells me the girls that are coming, who's going to come.
It was a funny thing.
Bernie said, suppose he comes back tomorrow and, you know, we're still here.
Yeah.
So would you give me a ring?
Yes, I'll give you a ring in the morning when I find out.
Uh-huh.
Okay.
And if you get up and you don't know anything, well, you can always just pick up the phone and ask for me.
What time are you on the job?
Me?
Uh-huh.
24 hours a day.
Oh, no kidding.
Yeah, I'll be up by 7 o'clock.
Okay.
Well, thank you for calling.
Okay.
Have a good dinner, then.

NARA Description

Frank A. Sisco and Ruth L. Krell talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:01 am on February 2, 1973 and 3:30 pm on March 3, 1973. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 161-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 161-2

Date: February 2 or 3, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:43 pm, February 2, and 3:30 pm, February 3, 1973
Location: Camp David Study Table

Ruth L. Krell talked with Frank A. Siscos.

[See Conversation No. 241-4F]

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                        Conversation No. 161-5 (cont’d)

       President's schedule
              -Krell's schedule
              -Alexander P. Butterfield
              -Military aide [?]
              -Bernice [surname unknown]
              -Sisco's schedule

Also recorded on February 2, 1973

  • 161-001 12:01 AM · 2 min — Unknown person(s) and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:01 am on February 2, 1973 and 3:30 pm on March 3, 1973.
  • 847-001 8:59 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:59 am and 9:39 am.
  • 847-002 8:59 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:59 am and 9:39 am.
  • 847-003 8:59 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:59 am and 9:39 am.
  • 847-004 8:59 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:59 am and 9:39 am.
  • 847-005 9:39 AM · 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Charles W. Colson, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:39 am to 10:33 am.
  • 847-006 10:33 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, White House photographer, Edwin L. Harper, and Elizabeth Harper met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:33 am to 10:36 am.
  • 847-007 10:36 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 10:38 am.

All 33 conversations from February 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 161-002, February 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/161-002 (accessed September 19, 2026).