Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 136 › Conversation 136-013

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Henry Kissinger and Stewart Alsop

Saturday, July 22, 1972 · 2:47 PM–3:57 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 29 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation136-013 on Tape 136 (tape position 00:49:20–00:49:48)StartSaturday, July 22, 1972 at 2:47 PMEndSaturday, July 22, 1972 at 3:57 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 136-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator to manage a scheduled call with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, who was en route to visit journalist Stewart Alsop. Nixon decided to cancel the immediate effort to reach Kissinger, noting that the conversation was no longer urgent. The President instructed the operator to inform Kissinger that he could return the call at his own convenience later in the day.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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No.
Mr. President, Dr. Kister is en route to Stuart Alsap's place.
He will be there within an hour, and we can reach him there at that time if you'd like.
No, I'll tell you, just let it go.
Cancel the call?
You can say that at his convenience any time today he can call me, but it's not urgent.
Fine, thank you.
At his convenience.
Thank you, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On July 22, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:57 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 136-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 136-13
Date: July 22, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:47 and 3:57 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table (telephone)

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 197-16A]

       Henry A. Kissinger's location
            -Stewart J. O. Alsop

       Cancellation of call

       Return call

Also recorded on July 22, 1972

  • 136-010 2:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:44 pm and 2:46 pm.
  • 197-013 2:44 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:44 pm and 2:46 pm.
  • 136-011 2:46 PM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:46 pm to 2:47 pm.
  • 197-014 2:46 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:46 pm to 2:47 pm.
  • 136-012 2:47 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:57 pm.
  • 136-014 2:47 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:57 pm.
  • 197-015 2:47 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 197-016 2:47 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:05 pm.

All 29 conversations from July 22, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 136-013, July 22, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/136-013 (accessed October 12, 2026).