Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-118

Nixon phone call with Tolson on J. Edgar Hoover and Funeral arrangements

Tuesday, May 2, 1972 · 5:26 PM–5:27 PM ET · White House Telephone · 48 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Tolson, Clyde A.Conversation023-118 on Tape 23StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 5:26 PMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 5:27 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 023-118 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Clyde A. Tolson to express his personal condolences following the recent death of J. Edgar Hoover. The two men discussed the profound impact of the loss, with Nixon affirming his intent to attend the funeral and deliver remarks honoring the late FBI Director. During the exchange, Nixon also acknowledged Hoover's professional legacy, asserting that history would diminish the significance of his critics.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
How are you?
Well, Clyde, on this day, I know you're Edgar's closest friend, and Pat and I wanted to send our deepest sympathy to you.
Well, we're very grateful for that.
It's quite a shock to us.
Of course.
And I'll be there, of course, for the funeral, and we'll hope to say a few words.
Well, he'd appreciate that, I know.
Yeah.
And no man in the world deserved it more.
And as I said...
He has this great thing to remember, and that is all of his damn detractors are going to look damn small.
Yeah.
Huh?
I appreciate your calling very much.
Right, Clyde.
Bye.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Clyde A. Tolson talked on the telephone from 5:26 pm to 5:27 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-118 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 23-118

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 5:26-5:27 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Clyde A. Tolson.

[See also Conversation No. 334-36F]

     J. Edgar Hoover
           -Friendship with Tolson
                 -Sympathy
                      -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
           -Death
                 -Shock
                 -Funeral
                      -The President's remarks
          -Detractors
          -The President's call

Also recorded on May 2, 1972

  • 023-114 4:49 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:49 pm to 4:51 pm.
  • 023-115 4:51 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:51 pm and 4:57 pm.
  • 023-116 4:57 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 4:57 pm to 4:58 pm.
  • 023-117 4:58 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:58 pm and 5:26 pm.
  • 023-119 5:30 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:35 pm.
  • 023-120 5:35 PM · 3 min — John D. Ehrlichman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 5:35 pm to 5:37 pm.
  • 023-121 6:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 6:03 pm.
  • 023-122 6:06 PM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Helen Gandy talked on the telephone from 6:06 pm to 6:07 pm.

All 67 conversations from May 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 023-118, May 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-118 (accessed October 9, 2026).