Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 137 › Conversation 137-015

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Henry Kissinger

Sunday, August 13, 1972 · 10:15 AM ET · Camp David Study Table · 7 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation137-015 on Tape 137StartSunday, August 13, 1972 at 10:15 AMEndSunday, August 13, 1972 at 10:15 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 137-015 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated a brief administrative call through the Camp David operator to establish a connection with National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. This interaction served as the necessary logistical step to facilitate a high-level consultation regarding sensitive foreign policy or national security matters. No substantive policy discussion occurred during this exchange, as the communication was strictly limited to securing the requested line.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
Dr. Kissinger, please.
Thank you, sir.

NARA Description

On August 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 10:15 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 137-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 137-15

Date: August 13, 1972
Time: 10:15am
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 199-9]

     Request for a call to Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on August 13, 1972

  • 137-014 10:11 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:11 am to 10:12 am.
  • 199-008 10:11 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:11 am to 10:12 am.
  • 199-009 10:13 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 10:13 am.
  • 137-016 10:15 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 10:15 am.
  • 137-017 10:15 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:19 am.
  • 199-010 10:15 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 10:15 am.
  • 199-011 10:15 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:19 am.
  • 137-018 10:19 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:19 am to 10:22 am.

All 29 conversations from August 13, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 137-015, August 13, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/137-015 (accessed September 18, 2026).