Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-046

Nixon phone call with Hoover on Jimmy Hoffa and Prisoner commutation

Friday, December 24, 1971 · 9:14 PM–9:17 PM ET · White House Telephone · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Hoover, J. EdgarConversation017-046 on Tape 17 (tape position 01:59:11–02:02:45)StartFriday, December 24, 1971 at 9:14 PMEndFriday, December 24, 1971 at 9:17 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-046 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover exchanged holiday greetings and discussed logistics for upcoming social engagements, including a planned dinner in Florida. The conversation shifted to the President's decision to release Jimmy Hoffa from prison, a move supported by Attorney General John Mitchell. Nixon cited Hoffa's status as a model prisoner and his wife’s illness as primary reasons for the commutation, while also noting his belief that the late Robert F. Kennedy had pursued a personal vendetta against Hoffa.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
You're at your home right there.
Because I've got to meet the German the next day and I've got to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Boy, I tell you, these meetings are hard work.
They're going well, though.
They're going well.
Do you really think so?
Right.
Incidentally, I...
You know, I decided after long deliberation, and John Mitchell recommended that we ought to let Jimmy out.
Well, his wife is terribly sick, you know, and the guy is, he's been a model prisoner, and I thought, what the heck.
Well, that's what John said you thought, and I asked him about things.
I didn't follow it at that time, but I thought that Bobby was on a vendetta against the man.
Yeah.
Well, it wasn't?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well... Bye.
Yeah.
And the same to you.
Bye.

NARA Description

On December 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover talked on the telephone from 9:14 pm to 9:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-046 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 17-46

Date: December 24, 1971
Time: 9:14 pm - 9:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with J. Edgar Hoover.

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-046-w001]
[Duration: 2m 3s]

     J. Edgar Hoover’s present to the Nixons
           -Eagle

     The President’s schedule
          -Christmas
               -David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Edward and Tricia Nixon Cox
                      -Swimming show

     J. Edgar Hoover’s activities
           -Florida
           -Schedule
           -Dinner
                 -William Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger

               -Clyde Tolson
                    -Health
          -Dinner
               -The President’s house
               -Dress
               -Timing

**********************************************************************

     President schedule in Florida
           -Meeting with Willy Brandt

     James R. “(Jimmy”) Hoffa's release
          -John N. Mitchell
          -Josephine (Polszynak) Hoffa
                -Illness
          -Hoffa
          -Robert F. Kennedy
          -Investigation

**************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-046-w003]
[Duration: 8s]

     The President’s schedule
          -Upcoming dinner in Florida
               -Timing

**************************************************************************

Also recorded on December 25, 1971

  • 017-042 9:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 9:04 pm to 9:05 pm.
  • 017-043 9:05 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:05 pm and 9:09 pm.
  • 017-044 9:09 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John A. ("Jack") Mulcahy talked on the telephone from 9:09 pm to 9:10 pm.
  • 017-045 9:10 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:10 pm and 9:14 pm.
  • 017-047 9:17 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:17 pm and 9:19 pm.
  • 017-048 9:19 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, McIntyre Faries, and Geralyne Faries talked on the telephone from 9:19 pm to 9:20 pm.
  • 017-049 9:20 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:20 pm and 9:22 pm.
  • 017-050 9:22 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Donald McI. Kendall talked on the telephone from 9:22 pm to 9:30 pm.

All 57 conversations from December 25, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 017-046, December 25, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-046 (accessed October 21, 2026).