Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 42 › Conversation 042-025

Kissinger phone call on John Sherman Cooper and Communication

Tuesday, April 6, 1971 · 5:23 PM–5:43 PM ET · White House Telephone ·17 sec

ParticipantsKissinger, Henry A.;  White House operatorConversation042-025 onTape 42 (tape position 00:26:36–00:26:56)StartTuesday, April 6, 1971 at 5:23 PMEndTuesday, April 6, 1971 at 5:43 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 042-025 ↗

AI Summary

Henry Kissinger contacted the White House operator to facilitate an urgent communication with Senator John Sherman Cooper. The conversation focused on determining Cooper's current location and travel status as he prepared for a 7:00 p.m. flight out of Dulles Airport. Kissinger emphasized the necessity of reaching the Senator before his departure, prompting the operator to attempt an intercept at the airport.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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, please.
How are you doing on Saturday?
Yes, Dr. Kissinger.
He's leaving for you?
Yes, I find he's en route to the Dulles Airport now, leaving on a 7 o'clock flight, and I might be able to get him out there for you.
You want him there?
Absolutely.
All right, I'll try my best.
Good.
All right.

NARA Description

On April 6, 1971, Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:23 pm and 5:43 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 42-25

Date: April 6, 1971
Time: Unknown between 5:23 pm and 5:43 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the White House operator.

     Call to John Sherman Cooper
           -Cooper's location

Also recorded on April 6, 1971

  • 476-001 12:27 PM · 9 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:27 pm and 8:59 pm.
  • 245-018 1:00 PM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:00 pm and 1:45 pm.
  • 042-021 1:50 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 1:50 pm to 1:51 pm.
  • 042-022 1:51 PM · 5 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:51 pm and 5:20 pm.
  • 042-023 1:51 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:51 pm and 5:20 pm.
  • 042-024 5:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Elliot L. Richardson talked on the telephone from 5:20 pm to 5:23 pm.
  • 042-026 5:23 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:23 pm and 5:43 pm.
  • 042-027 5:43 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 5:43 pm to 5:44 pm.

All 59 conversations from April 6, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 042-025, April 6, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/042-025 (accessed September 18, 2026).