Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 38 › Conversation 038-038

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Ronald L. Ziegler

Sunday, April 15, 1973 · 12:45 AM–1:01 AM ET · White House Telephone · 17 sec

ParticipantsWhite House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation038-038 on Tape 38StartSunday, April 15, 1973 at 12:45 AMEndSunday, April 15, 1973 at 1:01 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-038 ↗

President Nixon instructed the White House operator to connect him with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The call served as a brief logistical exchange to facilitate direct communication between the President and his press secretary. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this initial operator-assisted connection.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Sir, did you call operator?
Yes, sir.
Mr. President, Mr. Zegler returned here to call me.
I get him for you.
Yes, thank you, sir.

On April 15, 1973, White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:45 am and 1:01 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-038 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 38-38

Date: April 15, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:45 am and 1:01 am
Location: White House Telephone
                                               -24-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 38-38 (cont’d)

The White House operator talked with the President.

     Ronald L. Ziegler’s call to President
  • 038-033 10:28 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:28 pm and 11:02 pm.
  • 038-034 11:02 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 11:02 pm to 11:16 pm.
  • 038-035 11:16 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:16 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 038-036 11:16 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:16 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 038-037 11:22 PM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 11:22 pm to 11:53 pm.
  • 038-039 1:01 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:01 am to 1:09 am.
  • 896-006 10:35 AM · 1 hr 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:35 am to 11:15 am.
  • 038-040 1:12 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 2:22 pm.

Conversation 038-038, April 15, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-038 (accessed October 12, 2026).