Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-064

Nixon phone call with Murphy on Alger Hiss case and Whittaker Chambers

Friday, April 9, 1971 · 3:20 PM–3:21 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Murphy, Thomas F.Conversation001-064 on Tape 1 (tape position 02:14:35–02:16:16)StartFriday, April 9, 1971 at 3:20 PMEndFriday, April 9, 1971 at 3:21 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 001-064 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this call to personally express his gratitude to Judge Thomas F. Murphy for his distinguished public service and his pivotal role in the Alger Hiss case. The two reflected briefly on the difficulties of that historical prosecution and their shared connection to Whittaker Chambers. Concluding the pleasantry, the President promised to send Murphy a presidential golf ball to mark his retirement from the bench.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Judge Murphy?
Yes.
Hello?
Hello, Judge Murphy?
Yes, Mr. President.
How are you?
Fine.
I was just signing some appointments here the other day, and I noted that I was sending to the Senate the nomination of Murray Gerfein.
Yes.
And for Thomas Murphy.
Thomas Murphy?
But I said, well, I said, is that Tom Murphy of many years ago?
Yes.
And I found that it was.
So I just wanted you to know that we...
that the country owes you a very great debt for your service to the country.
And for your service not only as judge, but for that critical day when you had to take on that tough case.
So we have always been...
I've felt about you like Whitaker Chambers did.
It was a tough one.
It really was, but you did an awful lot, too.
Well, it was something that we both had to do, and I hope you're in good health, are you?
I just enjoyed three months sitting in San Diego, Mr. President, here trying to improve my golf, but no success.
Golf?
Oh, that's a terrible game.
I'll tell you, I'll send you one of the presidential golf balls.
Have you got one?
That's what you'll get for your retirement.
And then you can get a... By that way, you can get a whole lot.
Oh, good.
It has his presidential seal on it.
Oh, wonderful.
And in the meantime, I just want to thank you for the country and wish you the very best.
Thank you for the time I had.
Thank you so much.
Okay.
Good luck.
Bye.
All the best to you.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On April 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Thomas F. Murphy talked on the telephone from 3:20 pm to 3:21 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-064 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 1-64

Date: April 9, 1971
Time: 3:20 pm - 3:21 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Judge Thomas F. Murphy talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 476-26A]

     Murray I. Gurfein
         -Nomination for judgeship

     Murphy
         -Postal Service
         -Alger Hiss case [?]
         -Whitaker Chambers
         -Vacation
         -Gift from President

Also recorded on April 9, 1971

  • 001-060 1:35 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:35 pm and 1:47 pm.
  • 001-061 1:35 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:35 pm and 1:47 pm.
  • 001-063 1:47 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Arthur F. Burns, and Peter G. Peterson talked on the telephone from 1:47 pm to 1:54 pm.
  • 476-025 1:47 PM · 48 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Arthur F. Burns, Henry A. Kissinger, Peter G. Peterson, Stephen B. Bull, and Phil Watts met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:47 pm to 2:37 pm.
  • 476-026 3:16 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Thomas F. Murphy, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:16 pm to 3:33 pm.
  • 476-027 3:34 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 3:34 pm.
  • 476-028 3:34 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Marguerite Piazza, F. Harry Bergtholdt, William J. Condon, Anna B. Condon, Dr. Herman Marvin Pollard, Mrs. Dr. Herman Marvin Pollard, Irving I. Rimer, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:34 pm to 3:37 pm.
  • 476-029 3:40 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Bowie K. Kuhn, Joseph E. Cronus, Charles S. Feeney, Robert E. Short, Theodore S. ("Ted") Williams, and Henry C. Cashen, II met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:40 pm and 3:50 pm.

All 42 conversations from April 9, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 001-064, April 9, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-064 (accessed October 23, 2026).