Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 34 › Conversation 034-083

Nixon phone call with Krock on 1972 Presidential Election and Press Relations

Thursday, December 14, 1972 · 3:32 PM–3:35 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Krock, ArthurConversation034-083 on Tape 34StartThursday, December 14, 1972 at 3:32 PMEndThursday, December 14, 1972 at 3:35 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 034-083 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called veteran journalist Arthur Krock to express his well-wishes regarding Krock's declining health. The conversation focused on their long-standing professional relationship and mutual admiration, with Nixon reflecting on his political career and the significance of his 1972 electoral victory. Nixon also took the opportunity to critique contemporary journalism, noting his appreciation for Krock's past objectivity compared to the current state of the New York Times.

Audio

Download MP3 · 3.8 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Hello.

Mr. President, Mr. Kroc.

Yeah.

There you are, sir.

Hello.

Yes, sir.

Arthur?

Yes, Mr. President.

Well, I guess I wanted you to know that I and Dr. Rose, she was saying you'd been a little under the weather.

I knew you had, and I should have called you earlier, but I wanted you to know we're thinking of you.

And when those election returns came in, I was thinking back over the years and how very

very few people I had in your distinguished profession who ever even, you know, would—I don't mean were trying to pander, but who would try to write it objectively.

But I remember your friendship, and I will always be grateful.

That's kind of you, sir.

I've just been hunged up lately.

I've lived too long, and I'm— Oh, to hell with that.

You've lived too long.

I mean— Take the price of it.

I'll tell you, New York Times would be much better, more interesting for me to have to read every morning if I just saw that article column, believe me.

Oh, God, I'll tell you, because you know how to do it.

I just want you to know that we do hope that we wish you the very best for this Christmas season.

I know it's tough, but believe me, as I

I was saying to somebody the other day, I was probably going to be the biggest 61 and 1 tenth or something like that.

Well, I said, as far as the landslide is concerned, let me tell you one thing.

I told this to a friend.

I said, it doesn't happen at one time.

It happens over a period of years.

You build it sometimes when you lose and sometimes when you win.

you when you run for the House, when you run for the Senate, when you go through a few problems as vice president, when you lose for president, when you win for president, and then when you win again.

But what also helps is that through the years that you've been in public life, have people like yourselves.

I remember those lunches we used to have up in my little office.

Yeah, I remember them very well.

I remember we'd kick around.

I always thought you were a constitutional lawyer until one day you told me you weren't.

No, I could too.

And I also remember that delicious tomato dish we had at your house.

I wish we could ever resume that, but I'm quite bunged up.

I know.

I'm trying my best.

Anyway, just wish you the very best, Arthur.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On December 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Arthur Krock talked on the telephone from 3:32 pm to 3:35 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 034-083 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 34-83

Date: December 14, 1972
Time: Between 3:32 and 3:35 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Arthur Krock.

[See Conversation No. 383-6A]

       Krock’s health
            -The President’s recent conversation with Rose Mary Woods

       1972 election
            -The President’s reminiscences
                   -Press relations
                                                -66-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                               Conversation No. 34-83 (cont’d)

       Krock’s health

       New York Times
            -Krock’s column

       Christmas greetings

       1972 election
            -Victory margin
                   -The President’s political experience

       Meetings
            -The President’s previous luncheons with Krock

       Krock’s health

Also recorded on December 14, 1972

383-002 3:24 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:24 pm and 3:25 pm.
034-081 3:25 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:25 pm.
034-082 3:25 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:25 pm and 3:29 pm.
383-003 3:25 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:25 pm.
383-004 3:25 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:25 pm and 3:29 pm.
383-005 3:25 PM · 20 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 3:25 pm and 3:29 pm.
383-006 3:29 PM · 2 hr 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Arthur Krock, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John A. Scali, Manolo Sanchez, John D. Ehrlichman, unknown person(s), White House operator, and George P. Shultz met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:29 pm to 6:01 pm.
034-084 3:35 PM · 13 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:35 pm and 4:03 pm.

All 47 conversations from December 14, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 034-083, December 14, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/034-083 (accessed September 28, 2026).