Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 12 › Conversation 012-042

Nixon phone call with Moore on William H. Rehnquist

Thursday, October 21, 1971 · 3:53 PM–3:54 PM ET · White House Telephone · 41 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Moore, Richard A.Conversation012-042 on Tape 12 (tape position 01:09:05–01:09:47)StartThursday, October 21, 1971 at 3:53 PMEndThursday, October 21, 1971 at 3:54 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 012-042 ↗

President Nixon consulted Richard A. Moore to confirm the age of William H. Rehnquist during the lead-up to his Supreme Court nomination. Moore verified that Rehnquist was 47 years old, born in 1924, and discussed his military service background. The President concluded the brief call by inviting Moore to the Oval Office to review a pending document.

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Yeah.
Mr. Morris there.
Yeah.
Yes.
What is Rehnquist's age?
47.
Born.
47?
Yes.
I guess he was in the service then.
He was born in 1924.
Huh?
He was.
Let me just get his.
Born in 24?
Born in 24, but.
So that's correct.
Okay.
47.
All right.
Fine.
Let's see here.
You can come over now, and I'll let you take a quick look at this last copy.
I'll be right there.

On October 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard A. Moore talked on the telephone from 3:53 pm to 3:54 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 012-042 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 012-042

Date: October 21, 1971
Time: 3:53 pm- 3:54 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Richard A. Moore.

[See Conversation No. 281-45]

     William H. Rehnquist
           -Age

     Moore's schedule

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
  • 281-045 3:53 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard A. Moore met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:53 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 012-043 3:54 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:54 pm and 3:58 pm.
  • 012-044 3:54 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:54 pm and 3:58 pm.
  • 281-046 3:54 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:54 pm and 3:55 pm.
  • 281-047 3:55 PM · 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Richard A. Moore, White House operator, and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:55 pm to 4:25 pm.
  • 012-045 3:58 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 3:58 pm to 3:59 pm.
  • 012-046 3:59 PM · 11 sec — Rose Mary Woods and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:59 pm and 5:00 pm.
  • 012-047 3:59 PM · 48 sec — Rose Mary Woods, unknown person(s), Marjorie P. Acker, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:59 pm and 5:00 pm.

Conversation 012-042, October 21, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/012-042 (accessed September 28, 2026).