Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 33 › Conversation 033-059
Nixon phone call with Rockefeller on 1972 Presidential Election
Wednesday, November 8, 1972 · 1:12 AM–1:16 AM ET · White House Telephone · 4 min
AI Summary
President Richard Nixon and Nelson Rockefeller spoke following Nixon’s landslide victory in the 1972 presidential election to review preliminary results and the political landscape. They discussed the President’s strong showing in New York, the outcomes of various congressional races, and the failure of George McGovern's campaign. Additionally, Nixon disclosed that North Vietnam had recently agreed to unconditional negotiations, and the two men discussed the importance of post-election national unity.
- 1972 Presidential Election
- New York politics
- Vietnam War negotiations
- Congressional races
- George McGovern
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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Hi, Nelson.
How are you?
I just got back from the Shore Motel and they told me you called.
You know, it's so hard to get through those shouting crowds and I just didn't do it.
Well, I tell you, you know, you did just what you said you'd do in New York.
Well, how did it come out finally in New York?
The television now is saying 59.
59?
Isn't that something?
59 in New York?
It's going to be well over a million.
Oh, gosh.
Yes.
That's terrific.
And you've still got a good chance of carrying New York City.
Oh, God, isn't that something?
It's unbelievable.
Well, you may end up with 60 then if you carry the city.
That's right.
And they say 42% of the Jewish folk.
Oh, my God.
Well, I gave you credit for that.
No, sir.
I've done the whole thing, and we're just here with you.
Well, where did I admit me to get you?
At home?
Yeah, I'm just thrilled.
I'll tell you.
Well, that's great.
I was waiting around for McGovern to make a statement, you know, so late.
I mean, you know, that our networks were conceding it at 7 o'clock.
That's right.
Oh, believe it.
We've been watching it all night.
All right.
Well, but I'll tell you, it's a great day.
The only state now that we've lost is Massachusetts.
Really?
Did you get Washington, D.C., too?
Oh, no, no, no, no.
We lost that, but I didn't count.
Minnesota, there's some doubt about.
We don't know, but I suppose we get it.
But that's quite something.
Oh, it's just unbelievable.
And we couldn't do it too well.
Oh, tell me, did you, by any chance, what did you do in any of those house races, or do you know yet?
Oh, yes, we won.
Pizer won.
He knocked out Archer, which was good.
Brownie Reed, unfortunately, beat out Gary.
And Joe Boyd was beaten out on the island by Otis Pike.
We knocked out Dow.
So it's that sort of wash, huh?
Yeah.
We picked up two.
Oh, I see.
Well, that's great.
That's great.
I'm going to Florida tomorrow, I think, for a week, and then we ought to have a little chat if you have time.
What are you going to do?
I'm looking for—we're going to go out in the country and go over the camp.
Great, great, great.
We're going to go out in the country and— Well, you feel good, though, do you?
You know, incidentally, wasn't that fellow unbelievably irresponsible in the last two days, those charges?
Did you know, for your information, Henry may have told you, when I was on the airfield
North Carolina Saturday.
We got a wire from the North Vietnamese.
They've agreed to negotiate without conditions in one week.
It's all done.
We never said it, see.
But, you know, that's what you had to do.
Did you ever see such an irresponsible campaign as this clown put on?
No.
And, of course, his running name wasn't any worse.
But what a babbler.
But you know what I'll tell you?
Let me tell you, Mr. President.
I saw your daughter, Tricia, in New York.
television, and they told her what McGovern had said.
And this child was so marvelous, because... What'd she say?
It was your reaction.
And she was so controlled, and she was quiet.
And she said, well, freedom of speech is a great thing in this country, and the pressure of the campaign.
She was, I just really, I just thought she was so great.
As a matter of fact, my family felt a little bit...
They said, no, don't say anything nice about him, but as you know...
I was very careful to say, look, everybody, you opponents and others, you all fought hard.
Now let's get together.
You've got to be generous.
Don't you think so?
Oh, yes.
I think, Mr. President, this is the greatest thing.
And I want to help you in any way I can.
And try to do a job now.
Domestic thing here.
Right.
Okay.
I got your memo with all your crossovers.
I'll tell you, we're with you.
Okay.
We're with you.
Give my love to Happy.
You bet.
Bye.
Love to Pat.
Bye.
Thanks for calling.
NARA Description
On November 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Nelson A. Rockefeller talked on the telephone from 1:12 am to 1:16 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 033-059 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 33-59
Date: November 8, 1972
- 64 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Conversation No. 33-114 (cont’d)
Time: 1:12 am - 1:16 am
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Nelson A. Rockefeller.
[This is the original beginning of Conversation No. 033-059, which has been merged with
Conversation No. 033-058.]
[See conversation No. 388-4E]
Greetings
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]
1972 election results
-The President's landslide
-The President’s schedule
-Shoreham Hotel
-New York
-Results
-Projection
-The President's lead
-New York City
-Jewish vote
Rockefeller’s Location
-Home
1972 election
-George S. McGovern
-Concession statement
-Timing
-Concession
-Networks
-Massachusetts
-The President's loss
- 65 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Conversation No. 33-114 (cont’d)
-District of Columbia [DC]
-The President's loss
-Minnesota
-House of Representatives races
-Peter A. Peyser
-Defeat of Richard L. Ottinger
-Ogden R. Reid
-Defeat of Carl A. Vergari
-Otis G. Pike
-Defeat of Joseph Boyd, Jr.
-John G. Dow
-Defeat
-Republican gains in New York
The President's schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Possible meeting with Rockefeller
Rockefeller’s schedule
-Vacation
-Camp
1972 election
-Vietnam
-McGovern
-Campaigning
-Charges
-The President’s schedule, November 4, 1972
-North Carolina airfield
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Message from North Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Lack of conditions
-Timing
-McGovern’s campaign
-R. Sargent Shriver
-McGovern
-Charges
-Tricia Nixon Cox response
-New York
- 66 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Conversation No. 33-114 (cont’d)
-Freedom of speech
-Family's response
-The President’s recent statement
-Opponents
-Generosity
-Rockefeller's memorandum
-Domestic programs
-Cross-overs
Well wishes
-Margaretta (“Happy”) Rockefeller
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
*****************************************************************Also recorded on November 8, 1972
- 033-053 12:54 AM · 28 sec — Manolo Sanchez and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:54 am and 1:00 am.
- 033-054 12:54 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:54 am and 1:00 am.
- 033-055 12:54 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:54 am and 1:00 am.
- 033-056 1:00 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Frank L. Rizzo talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:00 am and 1:10 am.
- 388-004 1:00 AM · 1 hr 48 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), White House operator, Charles W. Colson, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:00 am to 3:00 am.
- 033-057 1:10 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:10 am and 1:12 am.
- 033-058 1:10 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 1:10 am to 1:12 am.
- 033-060 1:16 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 033-059, November 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/033-059 (accessed October 23, 2026).