Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 38 › Conversation 038-135

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

Wednesday, April 25, 1973 · 8:17 AM ET · White House Telephone · 13 sec

ParticipantsWhite House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation038-135 on Tape 38StartWednesday, April 25, 1973 at 8:17 AMEndWednesday, April 25, 1973 at 8:17 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-135 ↗

AI Summary

A White House operator coordinates with President Nixon to facilitate an urgent communication with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The President seeks to confirm Petersen’s current availability, as he is expected to initiate a call to the White House within minutes. This brief exchange serves to prepare the President for a critical, time-sensitive discussion regarding ongoing legal or investigative matters.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Hello?
Mr. Predden, Henry Peterson is a mooch.
They all must be there about 10 minutes or less for him to call you.
All right.
Thank you.
You're welcome.

NARA Description

On April 25, 1973, White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 8:17 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-135 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 38-135

Date: April 25, 1973
Time: 8:17 am
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See also Conversation No. 904-3]

     Henry E. Petersen’s location

Also recorded on April 25, 1973

  • 038-134 8:10 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:17 am.
  • 904-001 8:10 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:17 am.
  • 904-002 8:10 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:17 am.
  • 038-136 8:17 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:17 am and 8:25 am.
  • 904-003 8:17 AM · 12 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:17 am.
  • 904-004 8:17 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:17 am and 8:25 am.
  • 904-005 8:17 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:17 am and 8:25 am.
  • 904-010 8:25 AM · 38 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:25 am and 8:50 am.

All 59 conversations from April 25, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 038-135, April 25, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-135 (accessed October 5, 2026).