Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 20 › Conversation 020-036

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Henry A. Kissinger

Wednesday, February 2, 1972 · 4:31 PM–7:43 PM ET · White House Telephone ·5 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operatorConversation020-036 onTape 20 (tape position 01:12:25–01:12:30)StartWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 4:31 PMEndWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 7:43 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-036 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a request through the White House operator to place a telephone call to National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. This brief administrative exchange serves as the logistical bridge to facilitate a high-level consultation between the President and his advisor. 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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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 4:31 pm and 7:43 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-036 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-36

Date: February 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:31 pm and 7:43 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Request for a call to Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on February 2, 1972

  • 020-033 3:25 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:25 pm and 3:30 pm.
  • 020-034 3:30 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 3:30 pm to 3:31 pm.
  • 318-035 3:30 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:30 pm to 3:31 pm.
  • 318-036 3:31 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Ronald W. Reagan, William G. Milliken, and Linwood Holton met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:12 pm.
  • 318-037 3:31 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:12 pm.
  • 318-038 3:31 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:12 pm.
  • 318-039 4:12 PM · 1 hr 22 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Peter M. Flanigan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:12 pm to 5:30 pm.
  • 020-035 4:29 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter M. Flanigan talked on the telephone from 4:29 pm to 4:31 pm.

All 71 conversations from February 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-036, 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/020-036 (accessed September 18, 2026).