Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 131 › Conversation 131-015

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Stewart Alsop and Press relations

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 5:57 PM ET · Camp David Study Table ·13 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Camp David OperatorConversation131-015 onTape 131 (tape position 01:00:19–01:00:32)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 5:57 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 5:57 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 131-015 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to place a telephone call to political columnist Stewart Alsop in Washington, D.C. The primary purpose of this contact was to facilitate a direct conversation between the President and the journalist. This action highlights Nixon's ongoing efforts to engage with influential members of the press during his administration.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.
Could you get me Mr. Stuart Alsop?
He's the columnist in Washington, D.C., the White House operator.
Yes, thanks, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:57 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 131-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 131-15

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 5:57 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See also Conversation No. 190-5]

     Stewart J.O. Alsop
          -White House operator

Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 131-042 5:30 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 190-001 5:30 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 190-002 5:30 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 190-003 5:30 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 131-014 5:48 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:48 pm to 5:57 pm.
  • 190-004 5:48 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:48 pm and 5:57 pm.
  • 190-005 5:57 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 5:57 pm.
  • 190-006 6:40 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Beverly J. Kaye, and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:40 pm and 7:33 pm.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 131-015, May 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/131-015 (accessed September 18, 2026).