Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-159

Nixon phone call with O'Boyle on Vietnam War and Police violence

Thursday, May 27, 1971 · 9:05 PM–9:07 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); O'Boyle, Patrick CardinalConversation003-159 on Tape 3 (tape position 03:48:01–03:50:02)StartThursday, May 27, 1971 at 9:05 PMEndThursday, May 27, 1971 at 9:07 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-159 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle to personally congratulate him on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination. During the discussion, O'Boyle expressed his support for the President’s policies on Vietnam and offered prayers for his leadership amid political opposition. The two also discussed the recent surge in police killings, with both men agreeing on the necessity of taking a firm stance against such violence.

  • Vietnam War
  • Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle
  • Police violence
  • Presidential support
  • Religious relations

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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hello i have cardinal o'boyle for you mr president yes you are hello yes mr president your evidence i noticed and just reading through i'm working in my office tonight and reading through my files that you celebrated your 50th uh anniversary of your ordination on the 21st and i didn't call you and i just wanted to congratulate you and uh
Thank you very much, Mr. President, and you sent me a most gracious and kind letter.
I know the letter came, but I wanted to personally talk to you, too.
And I responded to it today and said the difficulties you are having and that we were praying for you.
And I just want to tell you, Mr. President, that I have admired the stand you have taken on Vietnam.
I should have told you before this, but not only on that, but on so many other things.
Well, you're very kind to say that, and I want you to know that on these issues we have to stand firm.
We're concerned about a lot of things, you know.
I've been so, the last two or three days, I'm sure you've been as shocked as I have about those terrible police killings in New York and other places.
And we've just got to have some people stand up against these things.
Well, I really, I think at times, you know, I've had controversy here in the diocese, you probably know.
But when I think of what you have to go through and the way some people do not treat you kindly at all, I say, well, I am indeed comforted by just thinking of what the president has to go through.
Well, that's very kind of you.
We'll see it through.
I often say that's why they pay me this big salary.
Yeah.
God bless you and keep you and be assured of our prayers.
Thank you very much, and I just hope you, I know you're in good health, and I just hope everything goes well for you.
I thank you very much, Mr. President, for being so kind as to call me.
Thank you very much.
Bye.

NARA Description

On May 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle talked on the telephone from 9:05 pm to 9:07 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-159 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-159

Date: May 27, 1971
Time: 9:05 pm - 9:07 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle.

     Fiftieth anniversary of O'Boyle's ordination
           -President's letter
                 -O'Boyle's response

     O'Boyle's support for President
         -Vietnam

     Police killings in New York, NY

     President's opponents

     Prayers for President

     O'Boyle's letter

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

Also recorded on May 28, 1971

  • 504-016 8:27 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:27 pm and 9:00 pm.
  • 504-017 8:27 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:27 pm and 9:00 pm.
  • 504-018 8:27 PM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John J. McCloy met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:27 pm and 9:00 pm.
  • 003-160 9:07 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:07 pm and 9:14 pm.
  • 003-161 9:14 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Leonard H. Goldenson talked on the telephone from 9:14 pm to 9:16 pm.
  • 003-162 9:16 PM — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:16 pm and 9:28 pm.
  • 003-163 9:16 PM — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:16 pm and 9:22 pm.
  • 003-164 9:28 PM — President Richard M. Nixon and James Cardinal McIntyre talked on the telephone from 9:28 pm to 9:29 pm.

All 63 conversations from May 28, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-159, May 28, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-159 (accessed October 12, 2026).