Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 36 › Conversation 036-127
Nixon phone call with Kissinger on John C. Stennis and Stuart Symington
Tuesday, January 30, 1973 · 8:59 PM–9:01 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min
AI Summary
Henry Kissinger informs President Nixon that Senator John Stennis was shot twice during a robbery outside his home and is currently undergoing surgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital. The two discuss the potential political implications of the shooting, specifically noting that the incident elevates Senator Stuart Symington to acting chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Nixon decides to personally contact Mrs. Stennis to express his concern regarding the Senator’s condition.
- John C. Stennis
- Stuart Symington
- Armed Services Committee
- Crime
- Assassination attempt
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On January 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 8:59 pm to 9:01 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-127 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 36-127
Date: January 30, 1973
Time: 8:59 pm - 9:01 pm
Location: White House Telephone
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.
[See Conversation No. 406-37]
John C. Stennis shooting
-Burglary
-Condition
-Walter Reed Army Hospital
-Assailants
-Race
-“Peacenik”
-W[illiam] Stuart Symington
-Armed Services Committee Chairman
-Coy H. StennisAlso recorded on January 31, 1973
- 406-037 8:59 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:59 pm to 9:01 pm.
- 036-128 9:01 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:01 pm and 9:07 pm.
- 406-038 9:01 PM · 21 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 9:01 pm and 9:07 pm.
- 406-039 9:01 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:01 pm and 9:07 pm.
- 036-129 9:07 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 9:07 pm to 9:09 pm.
- 036-130 9:10 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Coy H. Stennis talked on the telephone from 9:10 pm to 9:15 pm.
- 406-040 9:10 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. John C. Stennis met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:10 pm to 9:15 pm.
- 036-131 9:15 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:15 pm and 9:17 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 036-127, January 31, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/036-127 (accessed October 7, 2026).