Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-055
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on John D. Ehrlichman
Monday, May 17, 1971 · 7:30 PM–7:34 PM ET · White House Telephone · 4 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon requested that the White House operator place a telephone call to John D. Ehrlichman. The interaction served as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication between the President and his Assistant for Domestic Affairs. No further policy discussions or substantive developments occurred during this brief exchange.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 May 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:30 pm and 7:34 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-055 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 003-055
Date: May 17, 1971
Time: Unknown between 7:30 pm and 7:34 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
Call to John D. EhrlichmanAlso recorded on May 17, 1971
- 003-053 6:37 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:29 pm.
- 003-054 7:29 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:29 pm to 7:30 pm.
- 003-056 7:34 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:34 pm.
- 003-057 7:35 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 7:35 pm to 7:40 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 003-055, May 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-055 (accessed September 28, 2026).