Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-202

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

Monday, May 31, 1971 · 6:20 PM ET · White House Telephone · 38 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation003-202 on Tape 3 (tape position 05:04:33–05:05:11)StartMonday, May 31, 1971 at 6:20 PMEndMonday, May 31, 1971 at 6:20 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-202 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon attempted to reach H.R. Haldeman and Secretary of State William P. Rogers via the White House operator. Upon learning that Haldeman was in transit and Rogers was unavailable, the President opted not to pursue urgent contact. He instructed the operator to leave messages for them to return his calls at their convenience, indicating no immediate emergency.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
Mr. Haldeman just left for home, sir.
He'll be there in about 20 minutes.
He was here in the office.
Oh, I thought he was home already.
And, sir, on your call to Secretary Rogers, he is out.
The maid answering said that he should be back about 7, and they're unable to contact his car.
So may I try to reach him for you when he gets back at 7?
He's out.
And the Secretariat tried to raise his car, but didn't get an answer in the car.
That's right.
That's right.
He can call when he gets there.
No urgency.
Fine.
Thank you.
And I'll call Mr. Holliman's residence and leave word there for him to return your call.
When it's convenient.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 6:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-202 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-202

Date: May 31, 1971
Time: 6:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

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

[See Conversation No. 254-018]

     H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and William P. Rogers
          -Locations

Also recorded on May 31, 1971

  • 003-200 6:06 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:06 pm and 6:15 pm.
  • 254-017 6:06 PM · 4 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 6:06 pm and 6:15 pm.
  • 003-201 6:15 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 6:15 pm.
  • 254-018 6:20 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 6:20 pm.
  • 254-019 6:20 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:20 pm and 6:30 pm.
  • 003-203 6:30 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 6:30 pm to 6:38 pm.
  • 254-020 6:30 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:30 pm to 6:38 pm.
  • 003-204 6:38 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 6:38 pm to 6:42 pm.

All 50 conversations from May 31, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-202, 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/003-202 (accessed October 12, 2026).