Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 38 › Conversation 038-128

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Henry E. Petersen

Friday, April 20, 1973 · 11:23 AM–11:32 AM ET · White House Telephone · 12 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation038-128 on Tape 38StartFriday, April 20, 1973 at 11:23 AMEndFriday, April 20, 1973 at 11:32 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-128 ↗

President Nixon initiates a call to be connected with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The brief exchange serves as a procedural request to facilitate a direct line of communication between the President and Petersen. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this initial operator interaction.

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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, Henry Peterson, please.
Thank you.

On April 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:32 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-128 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 38-128

Date: April 20, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:23 am and 11:32 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 903-8]

     Telephone call to Henry E. Petersen
  • 903-006 11:07 AM · 42 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:07 am to 11:23 am.
  • 903-007 11:23 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:32 am.
  • 903-008 11:23 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:32 am.
  • 903-009 11:23 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:32 am.
  • 903-010 11:23 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:32 am.
  • 038-129 11:32 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone from 11:32 am to 11:40 am.
  • 903-011 11:32 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:32 am to 11:40 am.
  • 903-012 11:40 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:40 am and 11:43 am.

Conversation 038-128, April 20, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-128 (accessed October 5, 2026).