Nixon White House TapesTape 131 › Conversation 131-007

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Walter R. Tkach

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 2:35 PM–2:36 PM ET · Camp David Study Table ·11 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Camp David OperatorConversation131-007 onTape 131 (tape position 00:14:24–00:14:35)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:35 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:36 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 131-007 ↗

President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his personal physician, Dr. Walter R. Tkach. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to place the call. No substantive policy discussions or complex developments occurred during this interaction.

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Yes, please.
Dr. Takashi, please.
Thank you, Mr. President.

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 131-007 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 131-7
Date: May 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See also Conversation No. 189-18]

     Request for a call to Dr. Walter R. Tkach
  • 131-006 2:26 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:26 pm to 2:35 pm.
  • 189-018 2:35 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm.
  • 131-008 2:36 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
  • 189-019 2:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
  • 131-009 2:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:42 pm.
  • 189-020 2:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:42 pm.
  • 131-010 2:42 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:42 pm to 2:44 pm.
  • 189-021 2:42 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:42 pm to 2:44 pm.

Conversation 131-007, 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/131-007 (accessed September 18, 2026).