Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-068

Nixon phone call with Johnson on Christmas greetings

Saturday, December 25, 1971 · 10:06 AM–10:08 AM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Johnson, Lyndon B.; Johnson, Claudia A.Conversation017-068 on Tape 17 (tape position 02:51:24–02:52:52)StartSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 10:06 AMEndSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 10:08 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-068 ↗

AI Summary

President Richard Nixon contacted former President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson to exchange Christmas greetings and pleasantries. The discussion centered on recent photographs of the Johnson family, holiday logistics, and mutual well-wishes regarding their respective health and family gatherings. No substantive policy matters were addressed, as the conversation served primarily as a formal social gesture between the two presidential households.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Well, you just called to wish you a Merry Christmas.
I suppose you're up, aren't you?
It's 9 o'clock?
Yes, sir.
That was a fine picture of you with the little boy at the paper.
It was Lucy's boy, I think.
You made it possible for Lynn
Great.
I know.
Well, that was, well, anytime, you know, that's always, that's what we have to have.
Well, you, I hope you're feeling well.
You look good in the picture.
You know, you can't tell much about pictures.
No, no.
We're in Washington.
We're going to try to see that we're like everybody else.
We're going to try to have dinner between football games.
Yeah.
Well, I think you're going to win.
If they win, they play in Dallas next, don't they?
Right.
I envy you.
Those are great games.
Good.
Good.
Well, Merry Christmas.
I guess you must be happy with all the grandchildren there, huh?
Right.
Right.
Good.
Well, we're so glad that you're all together and that everybody's healthy.
Right.
Right.
Good.
Good.
Good.
You tell, uh, now you tell Lyndon now that, you know, you're the only one to talk to him.
Don't tell him not to, not to wear himself out.
Keep, keep well.
Keep, yeah.
We sure will.
Bye.
Goodbye.
Yeah, she'll, she'll, I don't think she's quite up yet, but I'll, I'll talk as soon as I get up.

NARA Description

On December 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Claudia A. Johnson talked on the telephone from 10:06 am to 10:08 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-068 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 17-68

Date: December 25, 1971
Time: 10:06 am - 10:08 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Lyndon B. Johnson.

     Christmas greetings

     Picture in newspaper
           -Johnson and Luci B. (Johnson) Nugent's son

     Lynda B. (Johnson) and Charles S. Robb

          -Transportation

     Lyndon Johnson's appearance

     The President's location

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-068-w001]
[Duration: 8s]

     The President's location
          -The Eisenhower family
          -Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo

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

     Football
          -Johnson’s attendance at football game
               -Timing

Claudia A (“Lady Bird”) Johnson joined the conversation.

     Johnsons' visit to Washington DC
          -Blair House

     Family greetings

     Lyndon Johnson's health

     Family greetings

     Mamie G.D. Eisenhower

Also recorded on December 25, 1971

  • 017-063 9:45 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 9:45 am to 9:50 am.
  • 017-064 9:53 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Lenore L. Romney, and George W. Romney talked on the telephone from 9:53 am to 9:56 am.
  • 017-065 9:57 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 9:57 am to 9:58 am.
  • 017-066 9:58 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:58 am and 10:01 am.
  • 017-067 10:01 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Earl L. Butz talked on the telephone from 10:01 am to 10:02 am.
  • 017-069 10:06 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:08 am.
  • 017-070 10:14 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Frank B. Rackley, and Marguerite Rackley talked on the telephone from 10:14 am to 10:16 am.
  • 017-071 10:16 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:29 am.

All 57 conversations from December 25, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 017-068, 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/017-068 (accessed October 10, 2026).