Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-188

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Henry Kissinger

Friday, May 28, 1971 · 8:13 PM ET · White House Telephone · 9 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation003-188 on Tape 3 (tape position 04:34:26–04:34:35)StartFriday, May 28, 1971 at 8:13 PMEndFriday, May 28, 1971 at 8:13 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-188 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon attempted to locate Henry Kissinger to facilitate a communication with Alexander Haig. Upon learning that Kissinger was out at dinner, the President declined to be connected to him at the restaurant. Nixon instead directed the operator to reach out to Colonel Hayes to address the matter.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Hello?
Mr.
Person, I find he's gone out to dinner.
Would you like me to reach him there?
Oh, no.
No, it's the Colonel Hayes.
I guess I'll try him, sir.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:13 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-188 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-188

Date: May 28, 1971
Time: 8:13 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

     Henry A. Kissinger's location

     Call to Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

Also recorded on May 29, 1971

  • 003-186 8:11 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 8:11 pm to 8:12 pm.
  • 003-187 8:12 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:12 pm and 8:13 pm.
  • 507-001 8:13 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:13 am and 9:08 am.
  • 507-002 8:13 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:13 am and 9:08 am.
  • 507-003 8:13 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:13 am and 9:08 am.
  • 507-004 8:13 AM · 1 hr 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, and Nelson A. Rockefeller met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:13 am and 10:32 am.
  • 003-190 9:08 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:08 am and 10:00 am.
  • 003-191 10:00 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Nelson A. Rockefeller talked on the telephone from 10:00 am to 10:06 am.

All 12 conversations from May 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-188, May 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-188 (accessed October 12, 2026).