Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-018

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Thomas N. Downing

Wednesday, February 2, 1972 · 9:13 AM–9:14 AM ET · White House Telephone · 9 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation020-018 on Tape 20 (tape position 00:43:38–00:43:48)StartWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 9:13 AMEndWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 9:14 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a request for the White House operator to place a telephone call to Representative Thomas N. Downing of Virginia. This brief administrative interaction serves as a precursor to a direct consultation between the President and the Congressman. The call highlights the President's ongoing communication with members of Congress regarding legislative or political matters.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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, Mr. President.
Congressman Downing of Virginia, please.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On February 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 9:14 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-18

Date: February 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:13 am and 9:14 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 664-3]

     Request for a call to Thomas N. Downing

Also recorded on February 2, 1972

  • 020-016 8:51 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:51 am and 9:10 am.
  • 020-017 9:10 AM · 58 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles S. Gubser talked on the telephone from 9:10 am to 9:13 am.
  • 664-002 9:10 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles S. Gubser met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:10 am to 9:13 am.
  • 664-003 9:13 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 9:14 am.
  • 664-004 9:13 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:13 am and 9:14 am.
  • 020-019 9:14 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thomas N. Downing talked on the telephone from 9:14 am to 9:15 am.
  • 664-005 9:14 AM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thomas N. Downing met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:14 am to 9:15 am.
  • 664-006 9:15 AM · 49 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:15 am to 10:05 am.

All 71 conversations from February 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-018, February 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-018 (accessed October 12, 2026).