Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-125

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Henry Kissinger

Tuesday, May 25, 1971 · 9:29 PM ET · White House Telephone · 9 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation003-125 on Tape 3 (tape position 03:10:29–03:10:40)StartTuesday, May 25, 1971 at 9:29 PMEndTuesday, May 25, 1971 at 9:29 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-125 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place his scheduled telephone call to Henry Kissinger on hold. He ultimately decided to cancel the call entirely after giving the directive to stand by. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief administrative exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

You can hold that.
I just want you to hold it.

NARA Description

On May 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:29 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-125 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-125

Date: May 25, 1971
Time: 9:29 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Call to Henry A. Kissinger
           -Cancellation

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

  • 003-118 8:28 PM · 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 8:28 pm to 8:47 pm.
  • 003-119 8:36 PM · 3 sec — the White House operator and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:36 pm and 8:53 pm.
  • 003-120 8:36 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:36 pm and 8:53 pm.
  • 003-121 8:53 PM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 8:53 pm to 9:14 pm.
  • 003-122 9:14 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 pm and 9:15 pm.
  • 003-123 9:15 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:15 pm to 9:20 pm.
  • 003-124 9:20 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:20 pm and 9:29 pm.
  • 003-126 8:24 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:24 am and 11:07 am.

All 83 conversations from May 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-125, May 26, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-125 (accessed October 23, 2026).