Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 136 › Conversation 136-030
Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Henry Kissinger
Sunday, July 23, 1972 · 2:35 PM–3:08 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 11 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. This brief exchange served as a logistical request to establish a secure line or initiate a conference call between the two officials. The conversation reflects the President's reliance on switchboard operators for maintaining direct contact with key foreign policy advisors while at the presidential retreat.
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Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On July 23, 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 3:08 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 136-030 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 136-30
Date: July 23, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:35 and 3:08 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table (telephone)
The President talked with the Camp David operator.
[See Conversation No. 196-29]
Request for Henry A. KissingerAlso recorded on July 23, 1972
- 136-026 2:10 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David at 2:10 pm.
- 136-027 2:10 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:10 pm and 2:14 pm.
- 196-024 2:10 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:10 pm and 2:14 pm.
- 196-025 2:14 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:14 pm to 2:35 pm.
- 136-028 2:35 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David at 2:35 pm.
- 136-029 2:35 PM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 3:08 pm.
- 196-026 2:35 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 3:05 pm.
- 196-027 2:35 PM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 3:05 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 136-030, July 23, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/136-030 (accessed October 12, 2026).