Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-193

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on H.R. Haldeman

Monday, May 31, 1971 · 2:25 PM ET · White House Telephone · 18 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation003-193 on Tape 3 (tape position 04:40:40–04:40:58)StartMonday, May 31, 1971 at 2:25 PMEndMonday, May 31, 1971 at 2:25 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-193 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated a call through the White House operator to locate his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman, who was attending a school event. Upon learning of Haldeman's unavailability, the President opted not to pursue contact and instead instructed the operator to connect him with Alexander Butterfield. This brief exchange reflects the President's administrative process for managing staff communications during the workday.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
Mr. President, I found Mr. Haldeman is over at Sidwell Friends School to a parent-teacher.
No, no, no, let it go.
Around 4.30 he'll be back?
No, no, no problem.
I'll get me Mr. Hello?
Yes, sir?
Give me Mr. Butterfield, please.
Fine, thank you.

NARA Description

On May 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 2:25 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-193 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-193

Date: May 31, 1971
Time: 2:25 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 254-008]

     H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman's location

     Call to Alexander P. Butterfield

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

Also recorded on May 31, 1971

  • 254-008 2:25 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 2:25 pm.
  • 003-194 2:26 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm.
  • 254-009 2:26 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm.
  • 003-195 2:27 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-010 2:27 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-011 2:27 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-012 2:27 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-013 2:27 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.

All 50 conversations from May 31, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-193, May 31, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-193 (accessed September 26, 2026).