Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 158 › Conversation 158-029
Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Kenneth Rush
Friday, December 29, 1972 · 6:52 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 24 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone call to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kenneth Rush. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical step to establish communication with the high-ranking defense official. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange beyond the successful placement of the requested call.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 6:52 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-029 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 158-29
Date: December 29, 1972
Time: 6:52 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table
The President talked with the Camp David operator.
[See Conversation No. 237-37]
Request for a call to [David] Kenneth Rush
-Rush’s identity
-Deputy Secretary of DefenseAlso recorded on December 29, 1972
- 158-027 6:44 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:44 pm and 6:49 pm.
- 158-028 6:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy talked on the telephone at Camp David from 6:49 pm to 6:52 pm.
- 237-036 6:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 6:49 pm to 6:52 pm.
- 158-030 6:52 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 6:52 pm.
- 158-031 6:52 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:52 pm and 7:02 pm.
- 237-037 6:52 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 6:52 pm.
- 237-038 6:52 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 6:52 pm.
- 237-039 6:52 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:52 pm and 7:02 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 158-029, 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/158-029 (accessed October 9, 2026).