Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 132 › Conversation 132-013

Beckman phone call on Camp David and Facility Maintenance

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 12:00 AM–11:49 PM ET · Camp David Study Table ·2 min

ParticipantsBeckman, Bill;  [Unknown person(s)]Conversation132-013 onTape 132 (tape position 00:08:49–00:10:55)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 12:00 AMEndTuesday, June 6, 1972 at 11:49 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 132-013 ↗

AI Summary

Bill Beckman coordinated with a contractor regarding structural repairs and aesthetic modifications at the Camp David study. The discussion focused on utilizing custom-made oak plates to conceal wiring and decommissioned junction boxes rather than cutting into the wood-paneled walls. Beckman approved the placement of these covers in the study and bedrooms to maintain the room's appearance while ensuring necessary electrical access.

  • Camp David
  • Facility Maintenance
  • Interior Renovation
  • Bill Beckman
  • Carpentry

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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).

Yes sir, this is panel.
They have all these plugs on these walls down here.
Under some of these things, the old thermostats, they had just a plate on the wall about a quarter of an inch thick.
I don't see why we can't go back with something like that instead of having to cut a hole and plug the wall.
Are they going to be underneath where we can't see them?
No, there'll be just a plate on the outside of the wall that would be sort of like a blind switch plate.
This would be made from oak and the same as the wall.
Well, this would be probably as good as plugging the wall at like, you know, what do you want to say when I plug that in?
There you go.
Can I put some plugs in the walls and first and second bedrooms in there?
Where they take out old junction boxes?
No, I didn't notice.
Well, no, you wouldn't notice them, but I cut plugs and in there I can put in and paint it and hide it.
But in here on these walls, they're just...
uh power and select on the wall okay how many how many places are you talking about two uh there'll be three i think three places uh on these kind of walls and then uh one in the first and the second bedroom okay hang on a minute
Hey, this man wants to talk to you.

NARA Description

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. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 132-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 132-13

Date: Unknown between May 18, and June 6, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:00 am, May 18 and 11:49 pm, June 6

Location: Camp David Study Table
Bill Beckman talked with [Forename unknown] Rectenwall [sp?].

     Repairs
          -Thermostats
                -Plates
                -Materials
          -Junction boxes
          -Plates

Beckman conferred with an unknown person at an unknown time.

[End of conferral]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 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.
  • 132-008 12:00 AM · 31 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.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 132-013, 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/132-013 (accessed September 18, 2026).