Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-083

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on White House administration

Saturday, December 25, 1971 · 11:12 AM–11:21 AM ET · White House Telephone · 8 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation017-083 on Tape 17 (tape position 03:11:29–03:11:37)StartSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 11:12 AMEndSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 11:21 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-083 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate a direct communication with Major General James D. Hughes. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to place a telephone call to the General on Christmas Day. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief connection.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.
General Hughes, please.
Thank you, sir.

NARA Description

On December 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:12 am and 11:21 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-083 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 17-83

Date: December 25, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:12 am and 11:21 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Request for a call to Maj. Gen. James D. Hughes

Also recorded on December 25, 1971

  • 017-077 10:55 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 11:02 am.
  • 017-078 11:02 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Michael Lauer, Ann Marie Lauer, Kathy Lauer, and Kevin Lauer talked on the telephone from 11:02 am to 11:05 am.
  • 017-079 11:07 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Hugh Scott, and Marian Scott talked on the telephone from 11:07 am to 11:09 am.
  • 017-080 11:10 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Carl B. Albert talked on the telephone from 11:10 am to 11:12 am.
  • 017-081 11:12 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:12 am and 11:21 am.
  • 017-082 11:12 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:12 am and 11:21 am.
  • 017-084 11:21 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and James D. ("Don") Hughes talked on the telephone from 11:21 am to 11:22 am.
  • 017-085 11:23 AM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:23 am.

All 57 conversations from December 25, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 017-083, 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/017-083 (accessed October 10, 2026).