Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 43 › Conversation 043-154

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Billy Graham

Wednesday, February 21, 1973 · 3:15 PM–3:26 PM ET · White House Telephone · 19 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation043-154 on Tape 43StartWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 3:15 PMEndWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 3:26 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 043-154 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to determine the whereabouts of Reverend Billy Graham, who was currently traveling home. The President established protocol for the operator to follow should Graham attempt to contact him during a planned one-hour absence. No significant policy decisions were made, as the exchange focused strictly on scheduling and communication logistics.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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. President, I understand that Reverend Graham is en route to his home.
We seem to be missing.
Yes.
If he calls back, I'll have to return him later then because I'll be gone for an hour or so.
Okay.
All right.

NARA Description

On February 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:26 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 043-154 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 43-154

Date: February 21, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:15 pm and 3:26 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 860-8]

       William F. (“Billy”) Graham’s location

       The President’s schedule

Also recorded on February 21, 1973

  • 043-152 3:12 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John C. Stennis talked on the telephone from 3:12 pm to 3:15 pm.
  • 860-004 3:12 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John C. Stennis met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:12 pm to 3:15 pm.
  • 043-153 3:15 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:26 pm.
  • 860-005 3:15 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:23 pm.
  • 860-006 3:15 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:23 pm.
  • 860-007 3:15 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:23 pm.
  • 860-008 3:15 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:23 pm.
  • 860-009 3:23 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:23 pm to 3:26 pm.

All 88 conversations from February 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 043-154, February 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/043-154 (accessed October 11, 2026).