Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 19 › Conversation 019-050
Kissinger phone call on William Safire and Communications
Monday, January 24, 1972 · 4:05 PM–4:20 PM ET · White House Telephone · 8 sec
AI Summary
Henry Kissinger contacts the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with William Safire. This administrative interaction serves as the precursor for a direct conversation between the National Security Advisor and the presidential speechwriter. No further policy-related substantive content is recorded in this brief exchange.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On January 24, 1972, Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:05 pm and 4:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-050 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 19-50
Date: January 24, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:05 pm and 4:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the White House operator.
[See Conversation No. 317-15E]
Request for a call to William L. SafireAlso recorded on January 24, 1972
- 317-015 3:35 PM · 42 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Frank T. Bow, Adele (Langston) Rogers, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, William L. Safire, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 4:20 pm.
- 019-048 3:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Frank T. Bow talked on the telephone from 3:36 pm to 3:38 pm.
- 019-049 3:46 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Adele (Langston) Rogers talked on the telephone from 3:46 pm to 3:47 pm.
- 019-051 4:05 PM · 2 min — Henry A. Kissinger, William L. Safire, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:05 pm and 4:20 pm.
- 019-052 4:20 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:20 pm and 4:27 pm.
- 317-016 4:20 PM · 9 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 4:20 pm and 4:27 pm.
- 019-053 4:27 PM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 4:27 pm to 4:55 pm.
- 317-017 4:27 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:27 pm to 4:55 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 019-050, January 24, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/019-050 (accessed September 26, 2026).