Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 9 › Conversation 009-054

Nixon phone call with Robinson on Camp David and Astronauts

Thursday, September 16, 1971 · 9:22 PM–9:23 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Robinson, George K. (Maj.)Conversation009-054 on Tape 9 (tape position 01:44:07–01:45:52)StartThursday, September 16, 1971 at 9:22 PMEndThursday, September 16, 1971 at 9:23 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 009-054 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Major George K. Robinson, the Camp David commander, to coordinate logistics for an upcoming visit by the astronauts and their families. Nixon provided specific instructions regarding cabin assignments, the screening of multiple films to accommodate both children and adults, and access to the Aspen pool. He also inquired about the availability of recreational equipment, ultimately deciding to abandon plans for horseback riding after confirming none were on-site.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 37% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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?
Hello?
Good evening, sir.
This is Major Robinson, the active camp commander.
Sure.
When the astronauts, they'll be there very shortly, right?
Yes, sir, within five minutes, sir.
Well, I wanted to tell you that you know where to set them up, one family in each of the two big cabins, you know?
Yes, sir.
Tricia and Eddie, when they come up tomorrow, will stay at Aspen.
Yes, sir.
I wondered if on the movies, if you could show two, you could do that, can't you?
Yes, sir, we can, sir.
And so give them a choice that the kids can look at one, and the parents can look at another, and the parents can look at that, and Aspen and the other can look at the one in the middle, okay?
Yes, sir, we already have that plan, sir.
Now, another thing is that let them use the swimming pool at Aspen.
In other words, let the families use that swimming pool, because it would be more convenient for the son and all that.
Will you do that, please?
Yes, sir, we certainly will, Mr. President.
Now, do you happen to have...
Do you have any horses up there?
No, sir, we do not, sir.
No horses.
None available, I suppose.
Sir, the closest local place where we have you on occasion is a pretty distant pass right now at the resort area.
Well, just don't bother with the horses.
They've got nothing else to do.
Yes, sir.
You can tell them that I asked about it, but we didn't have horses that day, sir.
Do a lot of other things.
Yes, I will.
Do you have tennis rackets?
Yes, sir, we do.
And golf clubs, of course.
Yes, sir.
Fine.
All those are available to them.
Let them have a good time.
Okay.
Bye.
Thank you very much.
Yes, sir.
Bye.

NARA Description

On September 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Maj. Maj. George K. Robinson talked on the telephone from 9:22 pm to 9:23 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 009-054 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 9-54

Date: September 16, 1971
Time: 9:22 pm - 9:23 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Maj. George K. Robinson.

     Acknowledgments

     Astronauts
          -Visit to Camp David
                -Time
          -Guest quarters
          -Tricia Nixon and Edward R.F. Cox
          -Movies
                -Number of movies
                -Parents, children
          -Swimming pool
                -Aspen

          -Horses
               -Location from Camp David
          -Tennis rackets
          -Golf clubs

Also recorded on September 17, 1971

  • 009-049 9:12 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:12 pm.
  • 009-050 9:13 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:13 pm.
  • 009-051 9:13 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:13 pm and 9:17 pm.
  • 009-052 9:17 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:17 pm to 9:19 pm.
  • 278-039 9:17 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:17 pm to 9:20 pm.
  • 009-053 9:19 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:19 pm and 9:22 pm.
  • 009-055 9:24 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:24 pm to 9:31 pm.
  • 009-056 9:34 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 9:34 pm to 9:37 pm.

All 48 conversations from September 17, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 009-054, September 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/009-054 (accessed October 9, 2026).