Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-129
Nixon phone call with Lewis on People's Republic of China and Soviet Union
Tuesday, February 29, 1972 · 9:05 PM–9:08 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis discuss the success and geopolitical implications of the President’s recent trip to the People's Republic of China. Lewis praises the media coverage of the visit, particularly the performances of the President and First Lady Pat Nixon, while both men emphasize the strategic impact of the trip on Soviet-American relations. They also touch upon upcoming Reader's Digest coverage by James Michener and dismiss critical newspaper reporting regarding the administration's policy on Taiwan.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On February 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 9:05 pm to 9:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-129 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 20-129
Date: February 29, 1972
Time: 9:05 pm - 9:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Hobart D. Lewis.
PRC trip
-James Michener's effort
-Television coverage
-The President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Possible effect on Soviet Union
-The President’s talk with Lewis
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[020-129-w002]
[Duration: 12s]
People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Preparation
-President’s Florida trip on March 1, 1972
-Late night work
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People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Chou En-lai
-Taiwan, Republic of China [PRC]
-Newspaper coverage
-Readers Digest article
-Michener
-Preview by President's staff
-Lewis’s health
-Congratulations to the President and Mrs. Nixon
-Length of preparation
-Effect
-World
-Nation
-Effect on Democrats
The President’s schedule
Greetings to unknown admiralAlso recorded on March 1, 1972
- 020-125 8:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 8:49 pm to 8:52 pm.
- 020-126 8:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:52 pm and 8:57 pm.
- 020-127 8:57 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:57 pm and 9:05 pm.
- 020-128 8:57 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:57 pm and 9:05 pm.
- 020-130 9:08 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:08 pm and 9:13 pm.
- 020-131 9:13 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 9:13 pm to 9:17 pm.
- 020-132 9:17 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 9:17 pm to 9:19 pm.
- 020-133 9:19 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:19 pm and 11:59 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 020-129, March 1, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-129 (accessed October 22, 2026).