Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 158 › Conversation 158-054

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Kenneth Rush and Henry Kissinger

Saturday, December 30, 1972 · 12:40 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 16 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation158-054 on Tape 158StartSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 12:40 PMEndSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 12:40 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 158-054 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator to determine the whereabouts of Kenneth Rush, who was reportedly at the Burning Tree Country Club. Upon learning of a potential radio contact, the President declined the offer to reach Rush. The President also initially requested to place a call to Henry Kissinger, though the conversation concluded without further action.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Hello, Mr. President, Mr. Rice is also on the ground floor.
He does have a radio with him if you could call him.
It's not necessary.
I'm not going to call him.
All right.

NARA Description

On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 12:40 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-054 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 158-54

Date: December 30, 1972
Time: 12:40 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 238-17]

       [David] Kenneth Rush’s location
            -Golf course [Burning Tree Country Club]
            -Return call

       Request for a call to Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on December 30, 1972

  • 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.
  • 238-015 12:38 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 12:38 pm.
  • 238-016 12:38 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:38 pm and 12:40 pm.
  • 238-017 12:40 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 12:40 pm.

All 64 conversations from December 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 158-054, 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/158-054 (accessed October 11, 2026).