Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 6 › Conversation 006-118

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Harold D. Donohue

Saturday, July 3, 1971 · 8:28 AM–9:01 AM ET · White House Telephone · 59 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation006-118 on Tape 6 (tape position 02:25:20–02:26:19)StartSaturday, July 3, 1971 at 8:28 AMEndSaturday, July 3, 1971 at 9:01 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 006-118 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital to relay get-well wishes to Congressman Harold D. Donohue. During the brief call with the nurse in charge, Nixon reflected on his long-standing personal history with Donohue, noting their shared service in the U.S. Navy during World War II and their subsequent tenure together in Congress. The call served as a personal gesture of concern for a political colleague and old friend undergoing medical treatment.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Hello.
Mr. President, Congressman Donahue is in the intensive care unit.
Now, I have a nurse that's working with him.
I'll just talk to him.
All right, sir.
Hello.
Nurse in charge, Mr. President.
Yes.
Yes, Mr. President?
Hello?
Yes, this is the nurse in charge of the unit.
May I help you?
Yes, how are you?
Fine, thank you.
When you get to have a chance to see the congressman, you tell him that I called to just wish him well.
Oh, thank you very much.
He and I were in the Navy together many years ago, before you were born, perhaps.
And back in 1942...
Two, and he's a very old friend, and we served in Congress together when he first came, and I hope he's doing all right.
Okay.
Well, thank you very much for your concern.
You give him our best wishes.
I certainly will.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.

NARA Description

On July 3, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 8:28 am to 9:01 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-118 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 6-118

Date: July 3, 1971
Time: 8:58 am - 9:01 am
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 536-7]

     Congressman Harold D. Donohue's location

The President talked with the nurse in charge of intensive care unit of Massachusetts General
Hospital at an unknown time.

     President's get-well wishes for Donohue
           -The President's service with Donohue in the US Navy and in Congress

Also recorded on July 3, 1971

  • 006-115 7:58 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:58 am.
  • 006-116 7:58 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 8:58 am.
  • 006-117 7:58 AM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 8:58 am.
  • 536-002 7:58 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 7:58 am.
  • 536-003 7:58 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 7:58 am.
  • 536-004 8:00 AM · 49 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, George P. Shultz, and James D. Hodgson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:00 am to 9:55 am.
  • 536-005 8:50 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 am and 8:58 am.
  • 536-006 8:50 AM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 am and 8:58 am.

All 45 conversations from July 3, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 006-118, July 3, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-118 (accessed October 12, 2026).