Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 157 › Conversation 157-015

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Richard T. Kennedy

Wednesday, December 6, 1972 · 3:31 PM–4:40 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 15 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation157-015 on Tape 157StartWednesday, December 6, 1972 at 3:31 PMEndWednesday, December 6, 1972 at 4:40 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 157-015 ↗

President Nixon initiates a phone call from Camp David to request a direct connection with Colonel Richard T. Kennedy. This brief interaction serves as a logistical bridge to facilitate a subsequent conversation with the National Security Council staffer. No substantive policy discussions occur during this short exchange with the operator.

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Colonel Kennedy, please.

On December 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 157-015 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 157-15

Date: December 6, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 233-20]

       Request for a call to Col. Richard T. Kennedy
  • 157-008 3:31 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 157-009 3:31 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 157-010 3:31 PM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 157-012 3:31 PM · 14 sec — Camp David operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 157-013 3:31 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 157-014 3:31 PM · 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 233-014 3:31 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 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.
  • 233-015 3:31 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:31 pm and 4:40 pm.

Conversation 157-015, December 6, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/157-015 (accessed October 10, 2026).