Nixon White House TapesTape 17 › Conversation 017-057

Nixon phone call with Woods on Christmas and Television

Friday, December 24, 1971 · 11:26 PM–11:28 PM ET · White House Telephone ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Woods, Rose MaryConversation017-057 onTape 17 (tape position 02:26:36–02:28:29)StartFriday, December 24, 1971 at 11:26 PMEndFriday, December 24, 1971 at 11:28 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-057 ↗

President Nixon speaks with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to exchange Christmas greetings and discuss the television broadcast of his daughter Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s show, "Christmas at the White House." The two also review Woods's progress in making holiday telephone calls to various associates, including McIntyre Faries and Ralph H. Cake. The conversation concludes with mutual well-wishes for the holiday.

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Hello?
President, Julie's not picking up in her room.
She may be supposed to be at Baskin Robbins now.
I'm at the Baskin Robbins.
Do you want me to jump in?
Yeah, brother.
Okay, fine.
And I have Rose Wood on the line, please.
Oh, wow.
President, Miss Wood.
Hi, Rose.
Hello.
Did you get to see Julie?
Julie?
Julie's show?
No, I didn't.
We were at church at that point, so I'll have to see it when I come back.
Oh, wow.
Well, I didn't see it, but Bob Haldeman said it was just great.
Of course you would see.
And I had hoped to see it.
I talked with... You could put it on with the channel 2.
Pardon?
You could get it with the channel 2.
Yeah, when I come back, I'll get it.
Aunt Mary told me she watched it and that it was just really lovely.
Good, I can see that.
But I didn't get a chance because that's when we went to Mass.
Good.
Well, that's fine.
That's fine.
You can pick it up then.
Good.
How's everything going?
Just fine.
I've made about 30 calls today.
Oh, have you?
We got them all.
I called a lot of people.
Oh, did you get Mack?
I'm sorry if you didn't.
It'll be the last time I'll ever hear from him.
It's hard to talk.
Oh, really?
Yeah, he was in the hospital seven weeks and the heart had stopped a little bit.
What about, did you get Ralph Cain?
Yep.
Good.
I bet he was thrilled.
He was.
Yeah, I called him.
Quite a few.
Well, that's wonderful.
I should have thought of some more.
I'm sure there are some more.
Okay.
I'm sure you did.
Well, Merry Christmas now.
Well, have a wonderful day.
Good day.
All right.
Thanks.

On December 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 11:26 pm to 11:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-057 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 17-57

Date: December 24, 1971
Time: 11:26 pm - 11:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

     Julie Nixon Eisenhower's location

     Rose Mary Woods on the line

The President talked with Woods.

     Julie Nixon Eisenhower's television show
           -“Christmas at the White House”
           -Woods's viewing
           -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
           -Mary [Surname unknown]

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

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]
[017-057-w002]
[Duration: 14s]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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

          -Phone calls
               -McIntyre Faries
                     -Health
               -Ralph H. Cake

     Christmas greetings
  • 017-051 9:32 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 9:32 pm to 9:35 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.
  • 017-055 11:17 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 11:17 pm to 11:22 pm.
  • 017-056 11:22 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:22 pm and 11:26 pm.
  • 017-058 11:28 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:28 pm and 11:30 pm.
  • 017-059 11:30 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone on an unknown date, sometime between 11:30 pm on December 24, 1971 and 8:43 am on December 25, 1971.

Conversation 017-057, 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/017-057 (accessed September 18, 2026).