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

Nixon phone call with Rebozo on Black September and Hostage crisis

Friday, March 2, 1973 · 8:06 PM–8:08 PM ET · White House Telephone ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rebozo, Charles G. ("Bebe")Conversation037-037 onTape 37StartFriday, March 2, 1973 at 8:06 PMEndFriday, March 2, 1973 at 8:08 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 037-037 ↗

AI Summary

President Richard Nixon and his close associate Bebe Rebozo discussed the recent Black September hostage killings in Khartoum, with both men affirming the administration's decision to refuse the terrorists' blackmail demands. Nixon invited Rebozo to Washington for a social weekend involving a Sammy Davis, Jr. event at the White House and a visit to Camp David. The conversation concluded with a brief reflection on the successful return of American prisoners of war from Vietnam, noting praise from Ambassador Walter Annenberg.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I have Mr. Rebozo, sir.
Hello.
Mr. President.
BB, where are you tonight?
Well, I'm at my sister's house down the street.
How are you feeling?
Just fine, just fine.
I hope you didn't call to offer me that post-it cartoon.
Oh, boy, isn't that too bad.
You heard that.
Horrible.
Yeah, well.
That's unreal.
Of course, we couldn't give in to the blackmail.
No way, no way.
So I'd indicate that earlier that we wouldn't.
That's all you'd have to do, just one thing.
Well, if we gave in once, then they'd do it everywhere around the world.
Yeah, everybody would be doing it.
That's horrendous.
I was thinking, why don't you come up tomorrow and come to the Sammy Davis party and then go to Camp David with me for a day?
Sure.
Okay.
Great.
Get up here and then you could stay at the White House.
There's plenty of room.
And I would go to Camp David about Sunday around noon.
Okay.
Okay?
Okay.
Is the party black tie?
Yeah, bring your black tie, you know.
Otherwise, they'll think you look like a slob.
That's right.
Black tie and don't bring any mustard.
Okay.
How are you feeling, all right?
Oh, fine, fine.
I hate to even tell you this, but you wouldn't believe the weather we've had all week.
Yeah.
You wouldn't believe it.
It's just been gorgeous.
Well, that's the way it is, yeah.
Okay.
Well, actually, you know, since we were talking, a lot of good things have happened, though, the way these POWs have handled themselves, and we put it to those bastards and made them come through on that anyway.
You know, I was talking...
I talked to Walter Annenberg yesterday, and he is so proud.
He's just so proud of that POW return, the way you handled all that.
He's just bursting at the seams.
That's good.
He really is.
He's properly soaked.
Right.
Well, wonderful.
Well, anyway, you can come up and have yourself a good time.
Okay.
All right, sir.
Bye.

NARA Description

On March 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 8:06 pm to 8:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 037-037 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 37-37

Date: March 2, 1973
Time: 8:06 pm-8:08 pm
                                            - 24 -

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

                                       (rev. Sept-09)

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo.

       Rebozo's location

       President’s health

       Sudan hostages [Black September]
              -Khartoum
              -Killings
              -Blackmail
              -Administration's response

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]

       President’s invitation to Rebozo
              -Sammy Davis, Jr.
                      -Evening at the White House
              -Camp David
              -White House Stay
              -Schedule
              -Attire

       President’s health

       Weather in Florida

******************************************************************************

       Vietnam settlement
             -Prisoners of War’s [POWs] return
                                                - 25 -

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

                                        (rev. Sept-09)

              -Walter H. Annenberg’s reaction

Also recorded on March 3, 1973

  • 037-034 8:01 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:01 pm.
  • 037-035 8:01 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:01 pm and 8:05 pm.
  • 037-036 8:05 PM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 8:05 pm to 8:06 pm.
  • 037-038 8:28 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 8:28 pm to 8:33 pm.
  • 868-011 12:01 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Bernard J. ("Bunny") Lasker, Gustave Levy, William J. Casey, Kevin Duffy, G. Bradford Cook, Mrs. G. Bradford Cook, George B. Cook, Mrs. George B. Cook, A. W. Armour, Mrs. A. W. Armour, Stephie Cook, Tom Cook, Lesley Cook, Heather Cook, and Daniel Cook, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:01 am and 12:06 am.
  • 868-012 12:06 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:06 am and 12:10 am.
  • 868-022 12:06 AM · 26 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:06 am and 12:10 am.
  • 868-013 12:10 AM · 58 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr., unknown person(s), Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:10 am and 1:09 am.

All 43 conversations from March 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 037-037, March 3, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/037-037 (accessed September 18, 2026).