President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate an urgent connection with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This brief administrative interaction served as the necessary step to bridge communication between the President and his key advisor during the holiday evening. The exchange focused exclusively on initiating this logistical task to ensure the two could speak directly.
On December 24, 1971, 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. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-054 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 17-54
Date: December 24, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:35 pm and 11:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
Request for a call to H. R. (“Bob”) HaldemanThis transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.