Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 34 › Conversation 034-065

Nixon phone call with Friedman on George P. Shultz and Health

Wednesday, December 13, 1972 · 4:47 PM–4:48 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Friedman, MiltonConversation034-065 on Tape 34StartWednesday, December 13, 1972 at 4:47 PMEndWednesday, December 13, 1972 at 4:48 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 034-065 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned economist Milton Friedman to offer his personal best wishes ahead of Friedman’s upcoming heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Informed of the procedure by George Shultz, Nixon expressed his high regard for Friedman’s intellect and importance to the nation. The brief exchange focused on morale and well-wishes, with Nixon encouraging a swift recovery.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Yeah.
We have reached Professor Friedman and he was in the hotel.
He hadn't checked into the hospital.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
There you are.
Hello.
Hello.
Milton?
Yes.
I had just learned from George Schultz that you were going up to Mayo for an operation.
And I wanted you to know we just wish you the best.
And when I said, what are they operating on?
I said, you're operating on his heart.
I said, fine, that's okay.
I said, just don't operate on your brain.
So, because we need you.
Well, that's very thoughtful and kind of you.
Well, I'll tell you, I know these things must be quite an experience to go through.
But they told me they're the best in the world up there and that...
And also, you're a very tough fellow, you know.
I believe that.
Right.
And I just wish you the very best, and we'll be expecting to see you back with a good heart and the same brain.
I only hope they'll take as good care of me as you've been taking of the country.
Okay.
In case we'll be in fine shape.
Well, that's very kind of you.
And good to talk to you.
Thank you very much.

NARA Description

On December 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Milton Friedman talked on the telephone from 4:47 pm to 4:48 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 034-065 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 34-65

Date: December 13, 1972
Time: 4:47 pm - 4:48 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Milton Friedman.

[See Conversation No. 822-11B]

       Friedman’s health
            -George P. Shultz
            -Mayo Clinic
            -Heart surgery
                                                 -53-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on December 13, 1972

  • 822-008 3:48 PM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, Edwin S. Cohen, and Lewis A. Engman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:48 pm to 4:13 pm.
  • 034-063 4:13 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:13 pm and 4:15 pm.
  • 822-009 4:13 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:13 pm and 4:15 pm.
  • 822-010 4:13 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:13 pm and 4:15 pm.
  • 034-064 4:15 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:15 pm and 4:47 pm.
  • 822-011 4:15 PM · 39 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson, Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, Stephen B. Bull, and Milton Friedman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:15 pm to 4:55 pm.
  • 034-066 4:48 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:48 pm and 11:59 pm.
  • 822-012 4:53 PM · 1 hr 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Manolo Sanchez, Alexander P. Butterfield, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:53 pm and 6:09 pm.

All 47 conversations from December 13, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 034-065, December 13, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/034-065 (accessed October 1, 2026).