Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-140

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on J. Edgar Hoover and FBI

Wednesday, May 26, 1971 · 6:33 PM ET · White House Telephone · 11 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation003-140 on Tape 3 (tape position 03:28:35–03:28:36)StartWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 6:33 PMEndWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 6:33 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-140 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon coordinated with the White House operator to arrange a telephone conversation with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The operator informed the President that Hoover would be available shortly, and Nixon requested that the call be placed at the Director's convenience. This exchange served as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication between the President and the head of the FBI.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, I find Director Hoover's en route home in about 10 minutes he'll arrive.
No, just when it's convenient.
All right, sir.

NARA Description

On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 6:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-140 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-140

Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 6:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 253-028]

     J. Edgar Hoover

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

             -Location
             -Return call

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

  • 003-141 6:33 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:33 pm and 6:42 pm.
  • 253-028 6:33 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 6:33 pm.
  • 253-029 6:33 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:33 pm and 6:42 pm.
  • 253-030 6:33 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:33 pm and 6:42 pm.
  • 003-142 6:42 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 6:42 pm to 6:46 pm.
  • 253-031 6:42 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:42 pm to 6:46 pm.
  • 003-143 6:46 PM · 1 min — Alexander P. Butterfield, White House operator, and Toni Sidley talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:46 pm and 6:50 pm.
  • 253-032 6:46 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:46 pm and 6:57 pm.

All 83 conversations from May 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-140, 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/003-140 (accessed October 12, 2026).