Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 31 › Conversation 031-116

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Sammy Davis Jr.

Wednesday, October 18, 1972 · 11:45 AM ET · White House Telephone · 14 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation031-116 on Tape 31StartWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 11:45 AMEndWednesday, October 18, 1972 at 11:45 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 031-116 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the White House operator to initiate a telephone call to entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. The President expressed uncertainty regarding Davis's current location, noting he was likely in Las Vegas, but directed the operator to track him down. This request serves as an administrative effort to facilitate direct communication between the President and a notable public figure.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Did you get me Sammy Davis Jr.?
I think he's probably in Las Vegas, but you can probably find him.
Sure, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On October 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:45 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 031-116 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 31-116

Date: October 18, 1972
Time: 11:45 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 803-8]

        Request for a call to Sammy Davis, Jr.

             -Location

Also recorded on October 18, 1972

  • 803-007 11:43 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:43 am and 11:45 am.
  • 803-008 11:45 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:45 am.
  • 803-009 11:45 AM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 11:59 am.
  • 031-117 11:59 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-010 11:59 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:59 am and 12:02 pm.
  • 803-011 12:02 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:02 pm to 12:04 pm.
  • 031-118 12:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 12:04 pm to 12:08 pm.
  • 803-012 12:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:04 pm to 12:09 pm.

All 86 conversations from October 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 031-116, October 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/031-116 (accessed October 10, 2026).