Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 43 › Conversation 043-220

Nixon phone call with Brennan on Debbie Reynolds and Irene

Monday, February 26, 1973 · 7:47 PM–7:49 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Brennan, John V.Conversation043-220 on Tape 43StartMonday, February 26, 1973 at 7:47 PMEndMonday, February 26, 1973 at 7:49 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 043-220 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Major John V. Brennan to coordinate a congratulatory gesture for Debbie Reynolds following her performance in the Broadway musical "Irene." The President directed Brennan to procure a large bouquet of roses to be presented on stage during the first curtain call. Brennan was tasked with wearing his military uniform to deliver the flowers on behalf of the President and the First Lady to ensure the presentation was handled appropriately.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Major Brennan, sir.
Hello.
Yes, sir.
I would like you to check to see when that show that I saw Irene opens in New York.
And then if you could go up and get some, I would say about four dozen, you know, so it's rather impressive, roses and so forth.
for the first curtain call.
You could arrange, you know, wear your uniform, so for the ticket out and hand it to her from the president, Mrs. Nixon, I think it would be a nice idea.
Wonderful.
Okay.
You sort of work it out with the manager up there, the president, Mrs. Nixon, want to send up and say, I'd say about 560 roses or something.
To Ms. Reynolds or for the cast?
Well, to Ms. Reynolds.
All right.
Okay, Mr. President.
All right, fine.
Yes, sir.
Bye.

NARA Description

On February 26, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and John V. Brennan talked on the telephone from 7:47 pm to 7:49 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 043-220 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 43-220

Date: February 26, 1973
Time: 7:47 pm - 7:49 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Maj. John V. Brennan.

[See Conversation No. 413-37]
                                             -116-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

       Musical comedy show, “Irene”
            -Opening night on Broadway
                 -Delivery of bouquet of roses to Debbie Reynolds
                       -Brennan’s role

Also recorded on February 27, 1973

  • 413-034 7:15 PM · 3 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 7:15 pm and 7:47 pm.
  • 413-035 7:15 PM · 8 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 7:15 pm and 7:47 pm.
  • 413-036 7:15 PM · 13 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 7:15 pm and 7:47 pm.
  • 413-037 7:47 PM · 53 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John V. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:47 pm to 7:49 pm.
  • 413-038 7:49 PM · 16 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 7:49 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 413-039 7:49 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:49 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 413-040 7:49 PM · 13 sec — Manolo Sanchez and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:49 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 043-202 8:01 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:01 am and 8:07 am.

All 56 conversations from February 27, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 043-220, February 27, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/043-220 (accessed October 1, 2026).