Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 131 › Conversation 131-020

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Ronald L. Ziegler

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 8:20 PM–8:35 PM ET · Camp David Study Table ·12 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation131-020 onTape 131 (tape position 01:32:11–01:32:23)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 8:20 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 8:35 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 131-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to cancel an existing call with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. However, after confirming the frequency of Ziegler's outreach, Nixon reversed his decision and agreed to accept the communication. The operator confirmed the call would be reconnected within approximately five minutes.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

I had a call with Ziegler, but you can cancel it.

Thank you.

All right, sir.

He has been calling in regularly.

All right.

I'll take it then.

Okay.

He should be calling back in about five minutes.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:20 pm and 8:35 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 131-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 131-20

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:20 pm and 8:35 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See also Conversation No. 190-11]

     Ronald L. Ziegler
          -Call cancelled
          -Return call
                -Time

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

190-011 8:20 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:20 pm and 8:35 pm.
132-001 12:00 AM · 43 sec — Bill Beckman and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.
132-002 12:00 AM · 47 sec — Bill Beckman and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.
132-003 12:00 AM · 1 min — Bill Beckman and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.
132-004 12:00 AM · 38 sec — Unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.
132-005 12:00 AM · 47 sec — Bill Beckman and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.
132-006 12:00 AM · 52 sec — Bill Beckman and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.
132-007 12:00 AM · 2 min — Bill Beckman and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 12:00 am on May 18, 1972 and 11:49 pm on June 6, 1972.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 131-020, May 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/131-020 (accessed September 18, 2026).