Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 8 › Conversation 008-089

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on John Ehrlichman

Sunday, September 12, 1971 · 4:31 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation008-089 on Tape 8 (tape position 03:58:42–03:58:53)StartSunday, September 12, 1971 at 4:31 PMEndSunday, September 12, 1971 at 4:31 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 008-089 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the White House operator to determine the whereabouts of John D. Ehrlichman. Upon learning that Ehrlichman had briefly left the premises, the President requested that Ehrlichman return his call upon his return. This brief exchange served as a routine attempt to establish communication with a key domestic policy advisor.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Mr. Ehrlichman went to the store, Mr. President.
May I have him call when he comes in?
Yeah, if it's convenient.
All right.

NARA Description

On September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:31 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-089 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 8-89

Date: September 12, 1971
Time: 4:31 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 278-24]

     John D. Ehrlichman's location

Also recorded on September 12, 1971

  • 008-088 4:31 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:31 pm.
  • 278-023 4:31 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:31 pm.
  • 278-024 4:31 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:31 pm.
  • 278-025 4:31 PM · 5 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 4:31 pm and 4:37 pm.
  • 008-090 4:35 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:35 pm.
  • 008-091 4:35 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:35 pm and 4:37 pm.
  • 008-092 4:37 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:37 pm.
  • 008-093 4:37 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Robert H. Finch talked on the telephone from 4:37 pm to 4:55 pm.

All 32 conversations from September 12, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 008-089, September 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/008-089 (accessed October 9, 2026).