Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 44 › Conversation 044-040

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Walter Lippmann

Wednesday, March 28, 1973 · 10:56 AM ET · White House Telephone · 13 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation044-040 on Tape 44StartWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 10:56 AMEndWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 10:56 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 044-040 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a phone call to request a conversation with political commentator Walter Lippmann. During the exchange with the White House operator, the President acknowledges reports of Lippmann’s recent health struggles, specifically noting a heart condition. The operator confirms the request, proceeding to facilitate the contact despite the journalist’s precarious medical status.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. Walter Lipman, please.
He's had a heart problem, but I think he can probably talk on the phone.
Fine, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On March 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:56 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 044-040 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 044-040

Date: March 28, 1973
Time: 10:56 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 421-27]

       Call to Walter Lippman

Also recorded on March 28, 1973

  • 421-027 10:56 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 10:56 am.
  • 421-028 11:08 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter Lippmann met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:08 am to 11:09 am.
  • 044-041 11:09 AM · 56 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter Lippmann talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 12:28 pm.
  • 044-042 11:09 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 12:28 pm.
  • 421-029 11:09 AM · 20 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 11:09 am and 12:28 pm.
  • 421-030 11:09 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 12:28 pm.
  • 421-031 11:09 AM · 9 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 11:09 am and 12:28 pm.
  • 421-032 11:09 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 12:28 pm.

All 65 conversations from March 28, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 044-040, March 28, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/044-040 (accessed October 2, 2026).