Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 37 › Conversation 037-031

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on George T. Bell

Friday, March 2, 1973 · 11:41 AM–11:43 AM ET · White House Telephone ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operatorConversation037-031 onTape 37StartFriday, March 2, 1973 at 11:41 AMEndFriday, March 2, 1973 at 11:43 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 037-031 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon attempted to reach George T. Bell via telephone, but the connection was unsuccessful due to Bell's declining health. The White House operator relayed information from Bell’s nurse, explaining that Bell was too weak to participate in a conversation. Nixon acknowledged the situation and accepted that a call would not be possible at that time.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, Mr. Bell is at home.
The nurse said he's entirely too weak, but he would have loved to talk to you, maybe some other time.
Oh, fine.
Well, I'll pick... Is the nurse there?
Yes, would you?
All right.

NARA Description

On March 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:43 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 037-031 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 37-31

Date: March 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:41 am-11:43 am
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 867-5]

       George T. Bell
             -Location
             -Health
             -Nurse

       [Pause]

Also recorded on March 2, 1973

  • 037-030 11:41 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 11:41 am to 11:43 am.
  • 867-003 11:41 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:41 am.
  • 867-004 11:41 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:44 am.
  • 867-005 11:41 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:41 am.
  • 867-006 11:41 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:43 am.
  • 037-032 11:43 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Margeret Armiger talked on the telephone from 11:43 am to 11:44 am.
  • 867-007 11:43 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Margaret Armiger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:43 am to 11:44 am.
  • 867-008 11:51 AM · 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Rose Mary Woods, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 12:16 pm.

All 58 conversations from March 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 037-031, March 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/037-031 (accessed September 18, 2026).