Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-159
Nixon, Kissinger & Connally on Kenneth Rush and Foreign Policy
Thursday, May 4, 1972 · 3:55 PM–5:15 PM ET · White House Telephone · 11 sec
AI Summary
Alexander P. Butterfield facilitated a telephone connection between Henry Kissinger and President Nixon, who was consulting with John B. Connally. The group discussed the logistics of handling an incoming call from Deputy Secretary of State Kenneth Rush. The President ultimately decided to defer speaking with Rush until a later time.
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Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On May 4, 1972, Alexander P. Butterfield, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-159 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 23-159
Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:55 and 5:15 pm
Location: White House Telephone
Alexander P. Butterfield talked with Henry A. Kissinger.
[See also Conversation No. 334-44H]
The President conferred with John B. Connally during the conversation.
[See Conversation No. 334-44H]
[End of conferral]
Call from [David] Kenneth RushAlso recorded on May 4, 1972
- 023-153 3:04 PM · 8 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-154 3:04 PM · 31 sec — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-155 3:04 PM · 2 min — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-156 3:04 PM · 18 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-158 3:55 PM · 51 sec — Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-160 3:55 PM · 11 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-161 3:55 PM · 7 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-162 3:55 PM · 41 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, and Muriel Hartley talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:25 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 023-159, May 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-159 (accessed October 23, 2026).