Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 32 › Conversation 032-138

Nixon phone call with Price on Presidential rhetoric and Speechwriting

Thursday, November 2, 1972 · 10:49 AM–10:50 AM ET · White House Telephone · 34 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Price, Raymond K., Jr.Conversation032-138 on Tape 32StartThursday, November 2, 1972 at 10:49 AMEndThursday, November 2, 1972 at 10:50 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 032-138 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and speechwriter Raymond Price consult on the strategy for upcoming public addresses to avoid appearing overly scripted or arrogant. Nixon decides against using a formal written text, favoring a more spontaneous delivery through talking points to project a less complacent tone. The pair determines that both potential broadcast opportunities should rely on this improvised format rather than a prepared speech.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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On reflection, the Tuesday thing definitely will not be a text.
Of course, Monday will not be under any circumstances, but Tuesday can't because I think it sounds too smug and complacent that I had it all written out in advance and all that sort of thing.
And I think reading something like that, so I'd just rather get sort of a good talking point for both nights.
Okay.

NARA Description

On November 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:49 am and 10:50 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-138 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 032-138

Date: November 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:49 am and 10:50 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Raymond K. Price, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 376-24]

        The President's schedule
            -Speeches
                -Text
                     -Time
                     -Preparation
                     -Talking points

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on November 2, 1972

  • 032-136 10:49 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:49 am.
  • 032-137 10:49 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:49 am and 10:50 am.
  • 376-021 10:49 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 10:49 am.
  • 376-022 10:49 AM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:49 am and 10:50 am.
  • 376-023 10:49 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:49 am and 10:50 am.
  • 376-024 10:49 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:49 am and 10:50 am.
  • 376-025 10:49 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:49 am and 10:50 am.
  • 032-139 10:50 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:50 am and 10:55 am.

All 86 conversations from November 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 032-138, November 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/032-138 (accessed October 10, 2026).