Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 35 › Conversation 035-018

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Henry Kissinger

Wednesday, December 27, 1972 · 8:33 PM–8:39 PM ET · White House Telephone ·26 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation035-018 onTape 35StartWednesday, December 27, 1972 at 8:33 PMEndWednesday, December 27, 1972 at 8:39 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 035-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a call to Henry Kissinger to discuss official matters. He emphasized that the call should not be disruptive, specifically requesting that Kissinger not be interrupted if he was at dinner. Considering the three-hour time difference, Nixon directed the operator to reach out only if the timing was convenient and non-urgent.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.

Operator, I'd like to talk to Dr. Kissinger.

I don't want to pull him out of a dinner or something.

All right.

Of course, we're three hours different, so he's probably before dinner.

But if you can get him conveniently, I'll talk to him.

But don't make it urgent, okay?

All right, Mr. Branson.

Thank you, operator.

Uh-huh.

NARA Description

On December 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:33 pm and 8:39 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 035-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 35-18

Date: December 27, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:33 pm and 8:39 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

       Request for a call to Henry A. Kissinger
            Kissinger’s schedule
                   -Dinner
                          -Time difference
                                                -24-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. Oct.-07)

Also recorded on December 28, 1972

035-013 7:41 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 7:41 pm to 7:43 pm.
035-014 7:43 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:43 pm and 7:52 pm.
035-015 7:52 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 7:52 pm to 7:53 pm.
035-016 7:53 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:53 pm and 8:14 pm.
035-017 8:14 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 8:14 pm to 8:33 pm.
035-019 8:39 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 8:39 pm to 8:45 pm.
035-020 8:45 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:45 pm and 8:49 pm.
035-021 8:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 8:49 pm to 8:52 pm.

All 76 conversations from December 28, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 035-018, December 28, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/035-018 (accessed September 18, 2026).