Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 8 › Conversation 008-021
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on William L. Safire
Monday, August 16, 1971 · 9:39 PM–9:40 PM ET · White House Telephone · 8 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to place an outgoing call to speechwriter William L. Safire. The brief interaction served as a logistical bridge to facilitate a direct conversation between the President and his advisor. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this request.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 August 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 9:39 pm to 9:40 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 8-21
Date: August 16, 1971
Time: 9:39 pm - 9:40 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
Request for call to William L. SafireAlso recorded on August 17, 1971
- 008-016 9:07 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 9:07 pm to 9:10 pm.
- 008-017 9:28 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:28 pm.
- 008-018 9:34 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:34 pm.
- 008-019 9:35 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:35 pm to 9:38 pm.
- 008-020 9:38 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:38 pm and 9:40 pm.
- 008-022 9:40 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire talked on the telephone from 9:40 pm to 9:42 pm.
- 008-023 9:42 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:42 pm and 9:54 pm.
- 008-024 9:54 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 9:54 pm to 9:59 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 008-021, August 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/008-021 (accessed October 12, 2026).