Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-053

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Ronald L. Ziegler

Monday, February 7, 1972 · 4:53 PM–8:52 PM ET · White House Telephone · 6 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation020-053 on Tape 20 (tape position 02:02:54–02:03:00)StartMonday, February 7, 1972 at 4:53 PMEndMonday, February 7, 1972 at 8:52 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-053 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical bridge to initiate a direct conversation between the President and his top spokesperson. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this request.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Ziegler?
Thank you.

NARA Description

On February 7, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:53 pm and 8:52 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-053 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-53

Date: February 7, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:53 pm and 8:52 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Request for a call to Ronald L. Ziegler

Also recorded on February 7, 1972

  • 020-051 4:49 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:49 pm and 4:52 pm.
  • 319-015 4:49 PM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:49 pm and 4:52 pm.
  • 319-016 4:49 PM · 3 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 4:49 pm and 4:52 pm.
  • 319-017 4:49 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:49 pm and 4:52 pm.
  • 319-018 4:52 PM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:52 pm to 4:53 pm.
  • 020-052 4:53 PM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:53 pm and 8:52 pm.
  • 020-054 4:53 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:53 pm and 8:52 pm.
  • 319-019 4:55 PM · 2 hr 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Raymond K. Price, Jr., unknown person(s), White House operator, Ronald L. Ziegler, Manolo Sanchez, Henry A. Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:55 pm to 7:15 pm.

All 41 conversations from February 7, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-053, February 7, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-053 (accessed October 1, 2026).