Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 157 › Conversation 157-020
Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on H. R. Haldeman
Wednesday, December 6, 1972 · 5:59 PM–8:16 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 14 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with his Chief of Staff, H. R. Haldeman. The primary purpose of this brief telephone exchange was to secure a direct line to his senior advisor. This call reflects the administrative process Nixon utilized to manage his inner circle while stationed at Camp David.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On December 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:59 pm and 8:16 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 157-020 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 157-20
Date: December 6, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:59 pm and 8:16 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table
The President talked with the Camp David operator.
Request for a call to H. R. (“Bob”) HaldemanAlso recorded on December 6, 1972
- 157-017 5:31 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:54 pm.
- 157-018 5:31 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:54 pm.
- 233-022 5:31 PM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:54 pm.
- 234-001 5:31 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 5:31 pm and 5:54 pm.
- 234-002 5:31 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:54 pm.
- 157-019 5:54 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:54 pm to 5:59 pm.
- 234-004 5:54 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 5:54 pm to 5:59 pm.
- 234-005 5:59 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:59 pm and 8:16 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 157-020, 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/157-020 (accessed October 10, 2026).