Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-125

Nixon phone call with Andrews on Law enforcement and J. Edgar Hoover

Tuesday, May 2, 1972 · 9:20 PM–9:22 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Andrews, John K., Jr.Conversation023-125 on Tape 23StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 9:20 PMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 9:22 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 023-125 ↗

President Nixon directs John K. Andrews, Jr. to incorporate a specific theme regarding law enforcement into an upcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of respect for J. Edgar Hoover. Nixon requests that the material be drafted and delivered by 1:00 p.m. the following day, noting that input from Patrick J. Buchanan should be utilized in the development of the draft.

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Yes, sir.
There is one theme that you might discuss.
I think that the greatest tribute to a great man is respect for a man who is more important to him.
Yes, sir.
The idea of the fee in terms of law enforcement .
Yes, sir.
The candidate develops .
I will.
That's a theme that is somewhat lightly in what I have to ask so far, but I'm sure it could be strengthened.
Good.
Good.
Well, you probably, but I particularly want that.
Yes, sir.
We'll have something for you on this probably about the middle of the morning.
Well, I won't need it actually.
I'll be busy this morning.
I won't need it until 1 o'clock.
1 o'clock, yes sir.
Thank you so much.
Okay.

On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:20 pm to 9:22 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-125 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 23-125

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 9:20-9:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John K. Andrews, Jr.

     Speech on law enforcement
          -Theme to develop
               -Patrick J. Buchanan
               -J. Edgar Hoover
          -Draft
               -Delivery to the President
                      -Time
  • 023-123 9:14 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 pm and 9:17 pm.
  • 023-124 9:17 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:17 pm.
  • 023-126 9:22 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:22 pm and 9:25 pm.
  • 023-127 9:25 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Harry S. Dent talked on the telephone from 9:25 pm to 9:31 pm.
  • 023-128 9:31 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:31 pm and 9:35 pm.
  • 023-129 9:35 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 9:35 pm to 9:40 pm.
  • 718-001 7:58 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 7:58 am to 8:09 am.
  • 099-012 8:09 AM · 1 hr 53 min — Richard M. Nixon and Republican Congressional leaders, including Robert P. Griffin, Margaret Chase Smith, Peter H. Dominick, Gordon L. Allott, George D. Aiken, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, John B. Anderson, John J. Rhodes, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Samuel L. Devine, H. Allen Smith, Robert C. ("Bob") Wilson, Richard H. Poff, William S. Mailliard, William E. Timmons, Richard K. Cook, Thomas C. Korologos, Patrick J. Buchanan, Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 10:45 pm.

Conversation 023-125, May 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-125 (accessed October 12, 2026).