Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 42 › Conversation 042-066

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on telephony

Wednesday, April 28, 1971 · 3:57 PM–4:33 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation042-066 on Tape 42 (tape position 01:31:32–01:31:44)StartWednesday, April 28, 1971 at 3:57 PMEndWednesday, April 28, 1971 at 4:33 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 042-066 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a brief exchange with the White House operator after confusion regarding an incoming telephone call to his line. The operator clarifies that the console had not actually signaled the President's phone, revealing a technical misunderstanding regarding the connectivity of the line. No further policy or administrative actions were taken during this short administrative interaction.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
Yes, Mr. President.
Would you call me?
One moment.
We didn't ring this phone, sir.
Oh, I see.
Thank you.
You're welcome.

NARA Description

On April 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 4:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-066 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 42-66

Date: April 28, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:57 pm and 4:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Call to the President

Also recorded on April 28, 1971

  • 252-014 3:53 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:53 pm to 3:57 pm.
  • 042-067 3:57 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 4:33 pm.
  • 252-015 3:57 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 4:33 pm.
  • 252-016 3:57 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 4:33 pm.
  • 042-068 4:33 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 4:33 pm to 4:37 pm.
  • 252-017 4:33 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:33 pm to 4:47 pm.
  • 252-018 4:47 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:47 pm and 4:49 pm.
  • 042-069 4:49 PM · 3 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 4:49 pm to 4:50 pm.

All 31 conversations from April 28, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 042-066, April 28, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/042-066 (accessed October 3, 2026).