Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 22 › Conversation 022-143

Nixon phone call with Brennan on Sequoia and William P. Rogers

Sunday, April 16, 1972 · 10:55 AM–2:25 PM ET · White House Telephone · 52 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Brennan, John V.Conversation022-143 on Tape 22 (tape position 05:38:52–05:39:45)StartSunday, April 16, 1972 at 10:55 AMEndSunday, April 16, 1972 at 2:25 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 022-143 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Major John V. Brennan to offer the presidential yacht, the Sequoia, for Secretary of State William P. Rogers's use, provided it was not currently scheduled by Alexander P. Butterfield. The President also discussed the poor weather conditions at Camp David, noting that heavy rain and potential travel limitations necessitated a follow-up call to First Lady Pat Nixon. Brennan was tasked with coordinating these logistics and reporting back on the availability of the vessel.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, Major Brennan's on the line, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, I wanted you to... You'll have to check with Butterfield to be sure it isn't in use, but I wanted...
The Sequoia is now being... is available, isn't it, now?
It is, Mr. President.
You could check, and if it is not in use tonight, you could have...
Butterfield, Offred, or you could to Rogers to use.
Right on, sir.
See if you'd like to.
Just have to tell him I'm not going, of course, that I'm at Camp David, and if he'd like to, he could take it out, okay?
All right, sir, I might mention the weather is terrible at Camp David.
It's raining very hard now, and I'm predicting some of the showers all afternoon.
Oh.
And we can't land at camp, and I have a helicopter going up now to see if we could go into Thermal, but it won't be a very pleasant day outdoors.
Oh, I see.
Well, hold, hold, and I'll call Mrs. Nixon.
Okay, fine.
Right on, sir.
Okay.

NARA Description

On April 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John V. Brennan talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 2:25 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-143 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 22-143

Date: April 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:55 am and 2:25 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Major John V. (“Jack”) Brennan.

     Sequoia
          -Availability
               -Check with Alexander P. Butterfield
          -Offer to William P. Rogers

     Camp David
         -Weather conditions
              -Predictions
         -Thurmont, Maryland
         -Request for call to Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

Also recorded on April 16, 1972

  • 022-133 10:55 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-134 10:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-135 10:55 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-136 10:55 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-137 10:55 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John V. Brennan talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-138 10:55 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-139 10:55 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-140 10:55 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.

All 45 conversations from April 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 022-143, April 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-143 (accessed October 12, 2026).