Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 158 › Conversation 158-049

Nixon phone call with Warren on Press relations and Media management

Saturday, December 30, 1972 · 12:27 PM–12:29 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Warren, Gerald L.Conversation158-049 on Tape 158StartSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 12:27 PMEndSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 12:29 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 158-049 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Deputy Press Secretary Gerald L. Warren conferred regarding the administration's public relations strategy and the reception of recent press briefings. The discussion focused on managing the tone of White House press interactions, specifically addressing the reporting of figures such as Helen Thomas and AP journalists. Nixon expressed satisfaction with Warren's performance, reinforcing the administration's determination to maintain a composed public image amidst ongoing media scrutiny.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 72% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I just wanted to know that, uh, if I was comfortable with it.
I did.
I was comfortable with it.
I did.
It's not important to me.
I do appreciate it.
It's, uh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's, uh, it's,
I'm sure that if you have to talk to them, if you have to.
Yes, and Helen Thomas is the first runner, as you say.
She was just smiling broadly, and she said it's going to be a very happy new year.
Good, good.
And how does it become that you give it to the students, the freshmen, to be in the car?
Yes, they like to be in the car.
That's right.
Unruffled and determined.
Good.
That is what the PSA will allow anybody else to do.
Well, Dana and Shaw, they do say they're on the decent.
And we said the same thing.
We were trying to get into the interpretation of it, and I stayed with the mayor's policy.
Look, it's going to be fine.
It's going to be all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
Good job.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Gerald L. Warren talked on the telephone at Camp David from 12:27 pm to 12:29 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-049 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 158-49

Date: December 30, 1972
Time: 12:27 pm - 12:29 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Gerald L. Warren.

[See Conversation No. 238-11]

       Vietnam War
            -Warren’s press conference
                 -The President’s view
                       -The President’s meeting with Warren
                       -Henry A. Kissinger
                              -John A. Scali
                 -Press relations
                       -Scali’s view
                       -Questions
                              -Tone
                       -Patriotism
                       -Norman Kempster
                       -Helen Thomas
                              -Comment about 1973
                                             -63-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 158-49 (cont’d)

                        -The President’s demeanor
                        -Gaylord Shaw of Associated Press [AP]
                  -Scali
                  -Wire stories

Also recorded on December 30, 1972

  • 238-011 12:27 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Gerald L. Warren met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 12:27 pm to 12:29 pm.
  • 158-050 12:29 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 12:29 pm.
  • 238-012 12:29 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 12:29 pm.
  • 158-051 12:35 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer talked on the telephone at Camp David from 12:35 pm to 12:37 pm.
  • 238-013 12:35 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 12:35 pm to 12:37 pm.
  • 158-052 12:37 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:37 pm and 12:38 pm.
  • 238-014 12:37 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:37 pm and 12:38 pm.
  • 158-053 12:38 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 12:38 pm.

All 64 conversations from December 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 158-049, December 30, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/158-049 (accessed October 24, 2026).