Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 38 › Conversation 038-116

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on John D. Ehrlichman

Thursday, April 19, 1973 · 3:38 PM–5:03 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation038-116 on Tape 38StartThursday, April 19, 1973 at 3:38 PMEndThursday, April 19, 1973 at 5:03 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-116 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a request through the White House operator to place a telephone call to John D. Ehrlichman. The brief exchange serves as the administrative bridge to connect the President with his Assistant for Domestic Affairs during the height of the Watergate investigation. No substantive policy discussions occur, as the interaction is limited to the mechanics of facilitating the communication.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

NARA Description

On April 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:38 pm and 5:03 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-116 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 38-116

Date: April 19, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:38 pm and 5:03 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Telephone call to John D. Ehrlichman
                                             -67-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on April 19, 1973

  • 038-115 3:38 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:38 pm.
  • 429-014 3:38 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:38 pm.
  • 429-015 3:46 PM · 1 hr 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard A. Moore met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:46 pm to 5:00 pm.
  • 429-016 5:01 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:01 pm and 5:10 pm.
  • 429-028 5:01 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:01 pm and 5:10 pm.
  • 038-117 5:03 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 5:03 pm to 5:04 pm.
  • 038-118 5:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:04 pm and 5:10 pm.
  • 038-119 5:10 PM · 12 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 5:10 pm.

All 54 conversations from April 19, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 038-116, April 19, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-116 (accessed October 12, 2026).