Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-051
Nixon phone call with Lewis on Reader's Digest
Friday, December 24, 1971 · 9:32 PM–9:35 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min
AI Summary
President Nixon initiated a Christmas Eve call to Hobart D. Lewis, the head of Reader's Digest, to exchange holiday greetings and discuss the President's recent media interview. Lewis praised the organization and articulation of the interview, expressing optimism for the President's upcoming political prospects. The brief conversation also touched upon the President's personal holiday schedule with his family and interest in collegiate football.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 December 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 9:32 pm to 9:35 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-051 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-51
Date: December 24, 1971
Time: 9:32 pm - 9:35 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Hobart D. Lewis.
Christmas greetings
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-051-w001]
[Duration: 8s]
The President’s schedule
-Christmas Eve
-David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower; Ed and Tricia Nixon Cox
-Christmas Day
-David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower; Ed and Tricia Nixon Cox
-Mamie Eisenhower, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Eisenhower, Howard Cox, Anne
Cox, Mazie Cox
**********************************************************************
President's call to Lewis
-Lewis expresses gratitude to the President
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment will remain closed.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-051-w002]
[Duration: 44s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**********************************************************************
The President's interview
-Readers Digest
Lewis's note to the President
-Praise
Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
FootballAlso recorded on December 25, 1971
- 017-046 9:14 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover talked on the telephone from 9:14 pm to 9:17 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.
- 017-052 9:35 PM · 6 min — Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Ann Davis talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:35 pm and 11:17 pm.
- 017-053 9:35 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:35 pm and 11:17 pm.
- 017-054 9:35 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:35 pm and 11:17 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 017-051, 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/017-051 (accessed October 12, 2026).