Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 15 › Conversation 015-149

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on John J. Rooney and Birthday

Monday, November 29, 1971 · 11:27 AM–11:28 AM ET · White House Telephone · 35 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation015-149 on Tape 15 (tape position 04:11:11–04:11:46)StartMonday, November 29, 1971 at 11:27 AMEndMonday, November 29, 1971 at 11:28 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 015-149 ↗

President Nixon placed a brief call to Congressman John J. Rooney to extend personal birthday greetings. The conversation served as a courteous gesture to maintain rapport with the veteran legislator, reflecting on their shared history dating back to the 80th Congress. No political or policy matters were discussed during this interaction.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, I have Congressman John Rooney for you
Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
John, I didn't want to have one of your old colleagues from going clear back to the 80th miss your birthday.
Oh, isn't that nice of you?
I know that you Irish go for a big bash on such a night, so go home and have fun, okay?
I got too old for that, Mr. President.
No, and spend a little...
It was nice of you.
Yeah, well, good to talk to you, and we'll wish you the best, okay?
Very, very much.
Many happy returns.
Bye.
Very, very much.

On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 11:27 am to 11:28 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-149 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 15-149

Date: November 29, 1971
Time: 11:27 am - 11:28 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     John J. Rooney

The President talked with Rooney.

[See also Conversation No. 625-20C]

     Birthday greetings
  • 015-145 11:14 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 11:14 am to 11:16 am.
  • 015-146 11:20 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:20 am.
  • 015-147 11:20 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:20 am and 11:25 am.
  • 625-019 11:20 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:20 am.
  • 625-020 11:20 AM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, William Thacher Lonstreth, White House operator, Clark MacGregor, and John J. Rooney met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:20 am and 11:49 am.
  • 015-148 11:25 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone from 11:25 am to 11:26 am.
  • 015-150 11:28 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:49 am.
  • 625-021 11:28 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:49 am.

Conversation 015-149, November 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-149 (accessed October 9, 2026).