Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 16 › Conversation 016-042

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on John W. McCormack

Wednesday, December 8, 1971 · 10:28 AM–2:15 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation016-042 on Tape 16 (tape position 01:25:08–01:25:18)StartWednesday, December 8, 1971 at 10:28 AMEndWednesday, December 8, 1971 at 2:15 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 016-042 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to determine the current whereabouts and availability of former Speaker of the House John W. McCormack. Upon learning that McCormack would be unavailable until midday, the President instructed the operator to place a call to him at any time thereafter. This brief exchange served as a coordination effort to facilitate a future communication between the two men.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Mr. President, Speaker McCormick is out till about noon.
That's right.
Could I have some call yet?
Anytime.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On December 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:28 am and 2:15 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 016-042 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 16-42

Date: December 8, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:28 am and 2:15 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

     John W. McCormack’s location

Also recorded on December 8, 1971

  • 632-003 10:18 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:18 am and 10:27 am.
  • 632-004 10:27 AM · 23 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:27 am to 10:50 am.
  • 016-041 10:28 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:28 am.
  • 016-043 10:28 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:28 am and 10:52 am.
  • 632-005 10:50 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 10:50 am and 10:52 am.
  • 016-044 10:52 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 10:52 am to 10:55 am.
  • 632-006 10:52 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:52 am to 10:55 am.
  • 016-045 10:55 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 11:03 am.

All 76 conversations from December 8, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 016-042, December 8, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/016-042 (accessed October 12, 2026).