Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 44 › Conversation 044-041

Nixon phone call with Lippmann on Health and Journalism

Wednesday, March 28, 1973 · 11:09 AM–12:28 PM ET · White House Telephone · 56 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Lippmann, WalterConversation044-041 on Tape 44StartWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 11:09 AMEndWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 12:28 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 044-041 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this phone call to check on the health of renowned journalist Walter Lippmann following his recent recovery from a medical procedure. The two engaged in a brief, cordial exchange focused on Lippmann's recuperation and his continued influence in public discourse. Nixon offered words of encouragement, affirming Lippmann's resilience and strong spirit during his convalescence.

Audio

Download MP3 · 2.1 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
Mr. President, Mr. Walter Lippmann for you.
Hello.
Good morning, Mr. President.
I just called to tell you that I had followed and pressed the reports of your having... And just glad to hear your voice is strong and firm and that you still have pen in hand and can let the country know what you think.
Thank you very much.
And you came out of it very well, apparently.
I think I did quite well.
And that's really...
The doctors seem rather paid.
Right.
Well, the main thing is, you know, it's the spirit that counts.
If you feel that way, they'll make it.
I wish you the very best.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Bye.
I know it's a tough thing, but you're a strong man.
You'll see it through.
Thank you very much.
Bye.

NARA Description

On March 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Walter Lippmann talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 12:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 044-041 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 044-041

Date: March 28, 1973

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Time: Unknown between 11:09 am and 12:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Walter Lippman.

[See Conversation No. 421-28]

       Lippman's health

Also recorded on March 28, 1973

  • 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.
  • 421-033 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.
  • 421-034 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.
  • 425-001 11:09 AM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull 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 044-041, 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/044-041 (accessed October 2, 2026).