Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 137 › Conversation 137-016

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Henry Kissinger

Sunday, August 13, 1972 · 10:15 AM ET · Camp David Study Table · 19 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation137-016 on Tape 137StartSunday, August 13, 1972 at 10:15 AMEndSunday, August 13, 1972 at 10:15 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 137-016 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated a call through the Camp David operator to reach National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger regarding a non-urgent matter. Upon learning that both Kissinger and General Alexander Haig were currently unavailable, the President opted not to pursue the contact immediately. The exchange served as a brief administrative attempt to coordinate with key foreign policy staff.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Mr. President, Dr. Kissinger is out of touch, but we can't get General Haig.
Oh, he's... That's all right.
No, I can reach him later.
It's just nothing urgent.
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 137-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 137-16

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

The Camp David operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 199-10]

     Call to Henry A. Kissinger
           -Kissinger’s location
           -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

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.
  • 137-015 10:15 AM · 7 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 137-016, 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/137-016 (accessed October 12, 2026).