Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-121
Nixon phone call with Bush on New Year's greetings and UN Ambassadorship
Friday, December 31, 1971 · 9:22 PM–9:24 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min
AI Summary
President Richard Nixon called U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations George H.W. Bush to exchange New Year's greetings and express mutual appreciation for their work throughout 1971. The two discussed Bush's professional experience in New York, their shared interest in upcoming football games, and personal family well-wishes. The conversation served to reinforce political alignment and rapport, with Bush reporting optimism regarding the administration's national standing following a recent trip to Texas.
- New Year's greetings
- George H.W. Bush
- Nixon administration
- UN Ambassadorship
- Political climate
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and George H. W. Bush talked on the telephone from 9:22 pm to 9:24 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-121 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-121
Date: December 31, 1971
Time: 9:22 pm - 9:24 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with George H.W. Bush.
[See Conversation No. 311-7]
New Year greetings
Bush's performance
-President offers congratulations
New York society crowd
Bush's job
Football
-Timing
-Dallas Cowboys
The President's location
-White House
Thelma C. (“Pat’) Nixon
Cabinet party
-Timing
**************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 11/26/2021. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[017-121-w001]
[Duration: 4s]
Cabinet party
**************************************************************************
Bush's family
-Father, Prescott Bush
-Golf
Nixon administration
-Praise from Bush
-Bush’s trip to Texas
-Optimism for upcoming yearAlso recorded on January 1, 1972
- 017-119 9:13 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 9:13 pm to 9:14 pm.
- 311-005 9:13 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:13 pm to 9:14 pm.
- 017-120 9:14 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 pm and 9:22 pm.
- 311-006 9:14 PM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:14 pm and 9:22 pm.
- 311-007 9:22 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George H. W. Bush met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:22 pm to 9:24 pm.
- 311-008 9:24 PM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:24 pm and 9:45 pm.
- 311-009 9:24 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:24 pm and 9:45 pm.
- 311-010 9:24 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:24 pm and 9:45 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 017-121, January 1, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-121 (accessed October 11, 2026).