Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 5 › Conversation 005-146
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Duke Ellington and Jazz
Wednesday, June 23, 1971 · 3:19 PM ET · White House Telephone · 7 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to legendary jazz composer and bandleader Duke Ellington. This brief interaction served as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication between the President and Ellington. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief connection.
- Duke Ellington
- White House communications
- Presidential scheduling
- Jazz
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On June 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:19 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 005-146 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 5-146
Date: June 23, 1971
Time: 3:19 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
[See Conversation No. 258-46]
Call to Edward K. (“Duke”) EllingtonAlso recorded on June 23, 1971
- 005-144 3:05 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:05 pm.
- 005-147 3:09 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:09 pm and 3:25 pm.
- 005-145 3:16 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John C. Stennis talked on the telephone from 3:16 pm to 3:18 pm.
- 258-045 3:16 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John C. Stennis met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:16 pm to 3:18 pm.
- 258-046 3:19 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:19 pm.
- 258-047 3:19 PM · 9 sec — 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 3:19 pm and 3:25 pm.
- 005-148 3:25 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:25 pm.
- 258-048 3:25 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:25 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 005-146, June 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/005-146 (accessed October 5, 2026).