Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 22 › Conversation 022-118

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Henry Kissinger

Wednesday, April 12, 1972 · 3:20 PM ET · White House Telephone · 11 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation022-118 on Tape 22 (tape position 04:37:09–04:37:19)StartWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 3:20 PMEndWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 3:20 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 022-118 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the White House operator to request a return call from National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. The President instructed the operator to have Kissinger call him immediately upon finishing his current telephone conversation. This exchange served as a logistical bridge to facilitate an urgent discussion between the two men.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Would you ask Dr. Kissinger to call me when he gets off the line on the call he's now making?
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On April 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-118 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 22-118

Date: April 12, 1972
Time: 3:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 330-39]

     Henry A. Kissinger to return the President’s call

Also recorded on April 12, 1972

  • 330-039 3:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:20 pm.
  • 330-040 3:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:20 pm and 3:26 pm.
  • 022-119 3:23 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 3:23 pm to 3:26 pm.
  • 330-041 3:26 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
  • 330-042 3:26 PM · 12 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 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
  • 022-120 3:27 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:27 pm.
  • 022-121 3:27 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone from 3:27 pm to 3:28 pm.
  • 330-043 3:27 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:27 pm to 3:28 pm.

All 37 conversations from April 12, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 022-118, April 12, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-118 (accessed October 12, 2026).