Nixon White House TapesTape 39 › Conversation 039-023

Nixon phone call with Eisenhower on Abilene and Watergate

Monday, May 28, 1973 · 10:31 PM–10:33 PM ET · White House Telephone ·2 min

ParticipantsWhite House operator;  Nixon, Richard M. (President);  Eisenhower, Julie NixonConversation039-023 onTape 39StartMonday, May 28, 1973 at 10:31 PMEndMonday, May 28, 1973 at 10:33 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 039-023 ↗

President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, discussed her recent trip to Abilene, Kansas, where she participated in a ceremony and observed public support for the President. Julie recounted a positive interaction with a religious youth group that held supportive signs, contrasting this reception with the broader political climate surrounding the Watergate scandal. The conversation also included brief personal updates regarding the President's upcoming travel plans to Iceland and general pleasantries about their recent schedules.

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I have Julie for you.
Thank you.
Julie?
Daddy.
How was Abilene?
Well, it was nice.
People were so friendly.
Oh, good, sweetie.
And you know, Daddy, I have to tell you something funny.
After the ceremony, we went around and shook hands.
Right.
And I was coming around the bend, and I saw a group of young people with signs.
They were nice-looking kids.
And I was so scared that I didn't even look at the signs.
I kept thinking they'd be bad.
And then I got closer, and they said, God bless President Nixon.
Nixon, President Nixon is on God's side.
And, oh, my Lord, it was this religious group from Abilene who was praying for you and thought you were the greatest.
And they were singing a song, and it was so cute.
Yeah.
You have to tell Mommy that.
Right.
I really enjoyed it.
Good.
David gave a very good little speech.
Good.
And people were very friendly.
Good.
Yeah.
I thought they would be out there, right?
Yeah, they were.
They don't think much about Watergate and that crap, you know.
No, they really don't.
They just are good people, and they, you know, believe in you, and they're real good people.
Well, Mommy, we all had a good time in Florida.
Did you have a nice day today?
Yeah, yeah.
Just the weather here is awful, isn't it?
Well, it just got good today, because we came in and it cleared up.
Well, but I mean, just think of the people who had a horrible weekend.
Right, right, right.
You know, we were so lucky with the weather, weren't we?
We sure were.
Are you going to...
You're home now, are you?
Yeah, we are.
It's really nice out here.
Great, great.
Will we see you tomorrow then?
Yeah, I'm going to come in to do a couple things.
Then I may see you tomorrow afternoon.
What time do you leave for Iceland?
The next day.
But you had a nice day today, didn't you?
Did you see a movie?
Not today.
All right, Shirley.
Thanks for everything.
Bye.

On May 28, 1973, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone from 10:31 pm to 10:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-023 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 39-23

Date: May 28, 1973
Time: 10:31 pm - 10:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

       Incoming telephone call

The President talked with Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s schedule
               -Trip to Abilene, Kansas
                       -Ceremony
                              -Meeting with young people
                                     -Signs
                                                        -22-

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                             (rev. February-2011)

                                                                             Conversation No. 39-23 (cont’d)

                                          -Religious group
                                          -Support for President
                           -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II’s speech
                           -Public response
                                  -Watergate

         President’s schedule
                -Trip to Florida
                -Washington, DC
                        -Weather

         Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s location
                 -Schedule

         President’s schedule
                -Trip to Iceland
                -Movie

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 6 s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
                                             -23-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. February-2011)
  • 039-022 10:15 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:15 pm.
  • 039-024 10:33 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:33 pm and 10:40 pm.
  • 039-025 10:40 PM · 4 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Paul W. Keyes talked on the telephone from 10:40 pm to 10:44 pm.
  • 929-001 8:30 AM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 8:44 am.
  • 929-002 8:30 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 8:44 am.
  • 929-003 8:44 AM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:44 am to 9:10 am.
  • 929-004 9:12 AM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:12 am.
  • 929-005 9:12 AM · 1 hr 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:12 am to 9:48 am.

Conversation 039-023, May 29, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-023 (accessed September 18, 2026).