Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 13 › Conversation 013-071

Nixon phone call with Conable on Birthday and Personal relations

Tuesday, November 2, 1971 · 1:09 PM–1:10 PM ET · White House Telephone · 47 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Conable, Barber B., Jr.Conversation013-071 on Tape 13 (tape position 02:36:53–02:37:40)StartTuesday, November 2, 1971 at 1:09 PMEndTuesday, November 2, 1971 at 1:10 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 013-071 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this brief call to Congressman Barber Conable, Jr. specifically to offer birthday wishes as Conable turned 49. Diverging from their typical interactions regarding legislative lobbying, the conversation remained lighthearted and personal. The exchange concluded with the President expressing his appreciation for Conable’s service.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Congressman Conable, sir.

Hello.

How are you, Mr. President?

I'm not calling you to urge you to do anything legislatively today, which I normally would be doing.

Well, I don't think you've ever done that, sir.

The purpose is, oh, yes, in leaders' meetings.

Oh, yeah.

But I just wanted to know that...

I remember when I left the 40s that I thought, boy, that's really the last.

So enjoy your last year in the 40s, will you?

49 years of age.

Oh, yes, sir.

Is that correct?

Thank you.

That's very nice.

I'm a little appalled to realize this.

I've been young all my life up until now.

No, but you're only 49, so you're still young.

But when you're 50, boy, I got you will feel it.

Just that one year.

I'll try to carry a big burden next year then.

Yeah.

Well, you've done a great job, and we appreciate it.

Thank you, Mr. President.

That's very nice.

NARA Description

On November 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Barber B. Conable, Jr. talked on the telephone from 1:09 pm to 1:10 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-071 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 013-071

Date: November 2, 1971
Time: 1:09 pm - 1:10 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Barber B. Conable, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 611-21D]

     Conable's birthday
         -Legislative lobbying
         -Age

Also recorded on November 2, 1971

013-068 12:56 PM · 58 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Clarence E. Miller talked on the telephone from 12:56 pm to 12:57 pm.
013-069 12:57 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:57 pm and 1:06 pm.
013-070 1:06 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John H. Rousselot talked on the telephone from 1:06 pm to 1:08 pm.
611-022 1:13 PM · 10 sec — Alexander P. Butterfield and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:13 pm and 3:00 pm.
611-023 1:13 PM · 34 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:13 pm and 3:00 pm.
013-072 1:15 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:30 pm.
300-001 1:15 PM · 11 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 1:15 pm and 1:30 pm.
300-002 1:15 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 an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:30 pm.

All 58 conversations from November 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 013-071, November 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/013-071 (accessed September 30, 2026).