Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 3 › Conversation 003-100

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Ronald L. Ziegler

Thursday, May 20, 1971 · 7:53 PM ET · White House Telephone ·4 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operatorConversation003-100 onTape 3 (tape position 01:58:15–01:58:21)StartThursday, May 20, 1971 at 7:53 PMEndThursday, May 20, 1971 at 7:53 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-100 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the White House operator to connect him via telephone to Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. This brief administrative exchange served as the necessary logistical step to initiate a conversation between the President and his press secretary. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief request for a call placement.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) ·JSON data · Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Yes, sir.
Could you drive Sigler now, please?
Fine.

NARA Description

On May 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:53 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-100 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 3-100

Date: May 20, 1971
Time: 7:53 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Call to Ronald L. Ziegler
                                              55

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)

Also recorded on May 20, 1971

  • 003-095 3:57 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 7:46 pm.
  • 502-021 3:58 PM · 19 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:58 pm and 9:43 pm.
  • 003-096 7:46 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:46 pm.
  • 003-097 7:46 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Herbert G. Klein talked on the telephone from 7:46 pm to 7:50 pm.
  • 003-098 7:50 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:50 pm and 7:52 pm.
  • 003-099 7:52 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:52 pm.
  • 003-101 7:53 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:53 pm and 7:59 pm.
  • 003-102 7:59 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 7:59 pm to 8:00 pm.

All 48 conversations from May 20, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-100, May 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-100 (accessed September 18, 2026).