Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-144

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

Wednesday, May 26, 1971 · 6:50 PM–6:58 PM ET · White House Telephone · 5 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation003-144 on Tape 3 (tape position 03:33:54–03:34:00)StartWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 6:50 PMEndWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 6:58 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-144 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a call to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover via the White House operator to discuss the recent killing of New York City police officers. The conversation centers on the ongoing investigation, potential motives behind the attacks, and the administration's planned appearances at upcoming law enforcement conferences. Nixon and Hoover coordinate on the federal response and information gathering efforts regarding the perpetrators.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.
Mr. Hoover, please.
Thank you, sir.
I'll put him right on.
Right on.

NARA Description

On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:50 pm and 6:58 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-144 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-144

Date: May 26, 1971
Time: Unknown between 6:50 pm and 6:58 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 253-034]

     Call to J. Edgar Hoover

[This is the original beginning of conversation No. 003-145, which has been merged with
conversation 003-144.]

[See Conversation No. 253-035]

     Killing of New York, NY policemen
           -National security information gathering
                 -John N. Mitchell
                 -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] availability
                       -New York bureau chief
           -Conference of National Association of Chiefs of Police, June 2, 1971 or June 3, 1971
           -Meeting on June 7, 1971 of sheriffs and police
           -President's visit to Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] academy
           -Apprehension of perpetrators
           -President's and Hoover's response
           -Details
           -Possible motives
                 -Poverty
                       -Possible New York Times editorial
                 -Perpetrators

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

  • 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.
  • 253-033 6:50 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:50 pm and 6:58 pm.
  • 253-034 6:50 PM · 2 min — 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 6:50 pm and 6:58 pm.
  • 003-145 6:58 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover talked on the telephone from 6:58 pm to 7:01 pm.
  • 253-035 6:58 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:58 pm to 7:01 pm.

All 83 conversations from May 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-144, 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/003-144 (accessed October 12, 2026).