Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 15 › Conversation 015-060
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Richard M. Helms
Saturday, November 20, 1971 · 10:23 AM ET · White House Telephone · 10 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon initiated a request to the White House operator to place an urgent call to Director of Central Intelligence Richard M. Helms. This brief exchange served solely as a logistical coordination to establish direct communication with the head of the CIA. No further substantive policy discussions occurred during this administrative connection.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 November 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:23 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-060 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 15-60
Date: November 20, 1971
Time: 10:23 am
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
[See also Conversation No. 621-18D]
Request for a call to Richard M. HelmsAlso recorded on November 20, 1971
- 015-059 10:02 AM · 13 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:02 am and 10:23 am.
- 015-061 10:23 AM · 12 sec — the White House operator and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:23 am and 10:24 am.
- 015-062 10:23 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:23 am and 10:24 am.
- 015-063 10:24 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 10:24 am to 10:27 am.
- 015-064 10:27 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:27 am and 10:45 am.
- 015-065 10:45 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
- 015-066 10:45 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
- 015-067 10:45 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 015-060, November 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-060 (accessed October 12, 2026).