Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-132

Nixon phone call with Rebozo on People's Republic of China and Diplomacy

Tuesday, February 29, 1972 · 9:17 PM–9:19 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; Rebozo, Charles G. ("Bebe")Conversation020-132 on Tape 20 (tape position 04:27:54–04:29:52)StartTuesday, February 29, 1972 at 9:17 PMEndTuesday, February 29, 1972 at 9:19 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-132 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and his close friend Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo discuss the overwhelming positive public reaction to the President’s recent historic trip to the People's Republic of China. Rebozo praises the diplomatic mission as a monumental achievement that has deeply moved the American public. The brief call also touches upon logistical preparations for the President’s upcoming trip to Florida with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Thank you.
Mr. President, I want to tell you that this is the most fantastic thing in history.
People have watched this, and people even saw your arrival last night, and I've talked to them in tears.
Really?
Were they?
Yes, sir.
Why?
Well, just so excited and so, you know, built up over the whole thing.
This has got to be one of the greatest historical events of our country.
No question.
It really is.
No question about it.
Because it doesn't mean that we're going to have instant peace, but it does mean we have a chance to avoid a few things.
No, sir.
You've told everybody that.
You've answered this amply well.
But still, the feeling is that you've delivered far more than you ever indicated that you thought you could.

NARA Description

On February 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 9:17 pm to 9:19 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-132 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-132

Date: February 29, 1972
Time: 9:17 pm - 9:19 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo talked with the President.

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 05/1/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[020-132-w001]
[Duration: 40s]

       The President's schedule

       Florida trip
              -President and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
              -Timing
                     -March 1, 1972
              -Reception
              -Weather in Florida
              -President’s arrival time
                     -Afternoon of March 1, 1972

**********************************************************************

     People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
          -Public reaction
          -Historical prominence
          -Chances for peace

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[020-132-w002]
[Duration: 27s]

       Florida trip
              -Henry A. Kissinger's arrival
              -President's promise to Henry A. Kissinger
                     -Gift from Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
                              -Phone numbers

**********************************************************************

Also 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.
  • 020-129 9:05 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 9:05 pm to 9:08 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.
  • 020-133 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.

All 40 conversations from March 1, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-132, 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/020-132 (accessed October 12, 2026).