Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 158 › Conversation 158-020

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

Friday, December 29, 1972 · 5:06 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 26 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation158-020 on Tape 158StartFriday, December 29, 1972 at 5:06 PMEndFriday, December 29, 1972 at 5:06 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 158-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to determine the whereabouts of Colonel Richard T. Kennedy. The operator informed the President that Kennedy was currently en route to the State Department and expected back in his office after 6:00 p.m. Nixon subsequently requested that a call be placed to Henry A. Kissinger, opting to wait until later to avoid unnecessary interruptions.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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. Whipple?
Oh, just, uh, anything further today?
Hello, uh, sir?
This is John Brennan.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, good to see you.
He is en route to the State Department.
Oh, wow.
He's expected back in his office after 6, however I could.
Yes, sir.
Oh, don't bother.
Try not to take too long.
All right.
Thank you.
Very good.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On December 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:06 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 158-20

Date: December 29, 1972
Time: 5:06 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 237-26]

       Col. Richard T. Kennedy’s location
             -State Department

       Request for a call to Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on December 29, 1972

  • 158-019 5:03 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:03 pm.
  • 237-025 5:03 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 5:03 pm.
  • 158-021 5:06 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:12 pm.
  • 237-026 5:06 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 5:06 pm.
  • 237-027 5:06 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:12 pm.
  • 237-028 5:06 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:12 pm.
  • 158-022 5:12 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:12 pm to 5:15 pm.
  • 237-029 5:12 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 5:12 pm to 5:15 pm.

All 67 conversations from December 29, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 158-020, December 29, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/158-020 (accessed October 11, 2026).