Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 41 › Conversation 041-070

Nixon phone call with Woods on Viral pneumonia and Bethesda Naval Hospital

Thursday, July 12, 1973 · 8:41 PM–8:46 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose MaryConversation041-070 on Tape 41StartThursday, July 12, 1973 at 8:41 PMEndThursday, July 12, 1973 at 8:46 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 041-070 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon calls his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to personally inform her of his diagnosis of viral pneumonia and his impending week-long hospitalization at Bethesda. The two discuss his frustration regarding forced rest and the President's instructions to Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler concerning the public announcement of his condition. Nixon expresses cynical amusement at the prospect of the White House press corps applauding the news of his illness.

Audio

Download MP3 · 1.8 MB

NARA Description

On July 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 8:41 pm to 8:46 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 041-070 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 41-70

Date: July 12, 1973
Time: 8:41 pm - 8:46 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.

     President’s health
           -President’s schedule
                 -Bethesda Hospital
           -President’s restlessness
           -President’s conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler
                 -Announcement of President’s condition
                 -White House Press Corps reaction

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Hello?

Hi.

Oh, because of the...

I didn't want you to read in the papers.

We had the x-ray, and they did find it was viral pneumonia.

So I have to go to the hospital for perhaps a week.

Five days, maybe, maybe a week.

And we think we'll get over it by that time.

I think I may beat it by a little.

If everything works out.

So I just wanted you to suggest one.

Well, I think the main thing you should do is try to get some rest.

You know, if you want anything, just...

I rest all the time.

Oh, sure.

Yeah.

Sure, sure.

God, in a hospital, that drives me nuts.

I know, it's very difficult.

So if you want anything and you want us to bring out FYIs, or if you want me to come out there and do anything, let me know.

Okay, and thank you.

And good luck.

Oh, it's going to be fine, don't worry.

I know it is, but I hope you'll be a lot better tomorrow, but try to...

I told Ziegler to make the announcement because I said it's the only time...

In his career, he'll hear the press car clap.

All those bastards.

Also recorded on July 12, 1973

949-013 8:22 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 pm and 8:33 pm.
949-014 8:22 PM · 14 min — Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, President Richard M. Nixon, and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 pm and 8:44 pm.
949-015 8:22 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 pm and 8:44 pm.
949-016 8:22 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 pm and 8:44 pm.
041-068 8:33 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:33 pm.
041-069 8:33 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:33 pm and 8:44 pm.
949-017 8:44 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:44 pm to 8:46 pm.
949-018 8:46 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:46 pm and 8:48 pm.

All 29 conversations from July 12, 1973 →

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on 26th Amendment and Media relations July 5, 1971 · 5 min
Nixon phone call with Tkach on Rose Mary Woods and Presidential health May 12, 1971 · 2 min
Nixon & Woods on Public relations and Media appearances September 12, 1972 · 3 min
Nixon & Bull on Bethesda Naval Hospital and Medical examination December 19, 1972 · 2 min
Nixon phone call with Ziegler on China-US relations and Taiwan February 28, 1972 · 3 min
Haldeman & Ziegler on Richard Nixon and Baseball June 27, 1972 · 2 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 041-070, July 12, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/041-070 (accessed November 2, 2026).