Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-078

Nixon phone call with Zwach on Birthday greetings and Political support

Wednesday, February 9, 1972 · 8:39 AM–8:40 AM ET · White House Telephone · 37 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Zwach, John M.Conversation020-078 on Tape 20 (tape position 02:26:40–02:27:16)StartWednesday, February 9, 1972 at 8:39 AMEndWednesday, February 9, 1972 at 8:40 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-078 ↗

AI Summary

Representative John M. Zwach called President Nixon to offer belated birthday greetings following the President’s birthday the previous day. The conversation highlighted a coincidence regarding shared birthdays among Republican colleagues John T. Myers and John N. Erlenborn. President Nixon acknowledged the call by expressing his appreciation for Zwach’s ongoing political support.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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hello congressman schrock of minnesota sir hello hi john mr president i just noted that you had a birthday yesterday and i wanted it to uh congratulate you also i thought you'd be interested to know that two of your republican colleagues had a birthday and they're both johns is that right sean meyer
Yes.
He was yesterday.
And John Erlenborn.
So apparently everybody who's born on this day was called John.
We have triplets then.
That's right.
Mr. President.
Well, good to talk to you.
Thank you very much for calling, Mr. President.
We appreciated your fine support down there.
Thank you.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On February 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John M. Zwach talked on the telephone from 8:39 am to 8:40 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-078 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-78

Date: February 9, 1972
Time: 8:39 am - 8:40 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John M. Zwach.

[See Conversation No. 668-7]

     Birthday greetings
          -Coincidental birthdays
                -John T. Myers and John N. Erlenborn
          -Support for the President

Also recorded on February 9, 1972

  • 020-077 8:34 AM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John T. Myers talked on the telephone from 8:34 am to 8:35 am.
  • 668-006 8:34 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John T. Myers met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:34 am to 8:35 am.
  • 668-007 8:39 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John M. Zwach met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:39 am to 8:40 am.
  • 020-079 8:40 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:40 am and 8:44 am.
  • 668-008 8:40 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:40 am and 8:44 am.
  • 020-080 8:44 AM · 44 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone from 8:44 am to 8:45 am.
  • 668-009 8:44 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:44 am to 8:45 am.
  • 668-010 8:45 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:45 am and 9:19 am.

All 53 conversations from February 9, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-078, February 9, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-078 (accessed October 2, 2026).