Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 7 › Conversation 007-149
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on William L. Safire
Sunday, August 15, 1971 · 11:18 PM–11:20 PM ET · White House Telephone · 9 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to place a follow-up call to speechwriter and advisor William L. Safire. The brief interaction served as a logistical step to initiate direct communication between the President and his aide. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this request for assistance.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On August 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:18 pm and 11:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-149 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 7-149
Date: August 15, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:18 pm and 11:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
Requested a call to William L. SafireAlso recorded on August 16, 1971
- 007-144 11:12 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Freeman F. Gosden, Jr. talked on the telephone from 11:12 pm to 11:14 pm.
- 007-145 11:14 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:14 pm.
- 007-146 11:15 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Pierre Rinfret talked on the telephone from 11:15 pm to 11:17 pm.
- 007-147 11:18 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:18 pm.
- 007-148 11:18 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:18 pm.
- 007-150 11:20 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire talked on the telephone from 11:20 pm to 11:22 pm.
- 007-151 11:22 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:22 pm and 11:24 pm.
- 007-152 11:24 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Arthur F. Burns talked on the telephone from 11:24 pm to 11:28 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 007-149, August 16, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/007-149 (accessed October 12, 2026).