Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 16 › Conversation 016-066

Nixon phone call with Bunche on condolences and diplomacy

Thursday, December 9, 1971 · 9:12 AM–9:13 AM ET · White House Telephone · 58 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bunche, Ruth A.Conversation016-066 on Tape 16 (tape position 02:23:39–02:24:38)StartThursday, December 9, 1971 at 9:12 AMEndThursday, December 9, 1971 at 9:13 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 016-066 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned Ruth A. Bunche to offer his condolences following the death of her husband, the renowned diplomat Ralph J. Bunche. During the call, the President reflected on Bunche’s character and their shared connection to California. Nixon concluded by assuring Mrs. Bunche that the White House would issue an appropriate formal statement to honor the late diplomat's contributions to global peace.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I just learned from George Bush about Ralph's death.
I know that it was expected because he's been so ill, but I want you to know that all of
all of his many friends are thinking about you now and uh well thank you very much he was he was such a fine man as of course i used to we used to joke a lot about the fact we both were from california and he's ucla and uh but he was uh he was such a gentle man and a kind man and did so much for the peace of the world and uh we will uh we will of course uh
see that that's properly represented in our statements from here.
Well, thank you.
It was very kind of you to call, and I appreciate it very much.
And we want to express Mrs. Nixon and my deepest sympathy to you.
Thank you, Ms.
Bunch.
Well, thank you very much, Mr. Nixon.
Goodbye.

NARA Description

On December 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ruth A. Bunche talked on the telephone from 9:12 am to 9:13 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 016-066 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 16-66

Date: December 9, 1971
Time: 9:12 am - 9:13 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ruth H. Bunche.

[See Conversation No. 633-1A]

     Death of Ralph J. Bunche
          -George H.W. Bush
                -Conversation with the President
          -President’s sympathies
                -Bunche’s illness
                -California
                      -University of California, Los Angeles
                -White House statements
                -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

Also recorded on December 9, 1971

  • 016-065 9:04 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:04 am and 9:12 am.
  • 633-001 9:05 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:05 am to 9:11 am.
  • 633-002 9:12 AM · 58 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ruth A. Bunche met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:12 am to 9:13 am.
  • 016-067 9:13 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 11:33 am.
  • 633-003 9:13 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 10:04 am.
  • 633-004 9:13 AM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 10:04 am.
  • 633-005 10:04 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:04 am.
  • 633-006 10:04 AM · 56 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Emilio Garrastuzu Medici, and Vernon A. Walters met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:04 am to 11:02 am.

All 44 conversations from December 9, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 016-066, December 9, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/016-066 (accessed October 24, 2026).