Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 167 › Conversation 167-012

Nixon phone call with Camp David operator on H. R. Haldeman and Watergate era

Sunday, May 20, 1973 · 2:30 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 19 sec

ParticipantsCamp David operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation167-012 on Tape 167StartSunday, May 20, 1973 at 2:30 PMEndSunday, May 20, 1973 at 2:30 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 167-012 ↗

President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to attempt a telephone connection with H. R. Haldeman after an initial call to his residence went unanswered. The President requested that the operator persist in reaching Haldeman and check back in approximately thirty minutes. This brief exchange highlights the President's ongoing communication efforts with his former Chief of Staff during the period following Haldeman's resignation.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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No.
Sir, we get no answer at Mr. Haldeman's residence where, you know, we reached him before.
Oh, I see.
Fine.
May we keep after it for you?
I'll try it in about a half hour, please.
All right, sir.
Thank you.

On May 20, 1973, Camp David operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David at 2:30 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 167-012 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 167-12

Date: May 20, 1973
Time: 2:30 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The Camp David operator talked with the President.

     Telephone call to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
  • 167-013 2:30 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:30 pm and 2:51 pm.
  • 167-014 2:51 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:51 pm to 2:53 pm.
  • 167-015 2:53 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:53 pm and 2:55 pm.
  • 167-016 2:55 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:55 pm to 3:07 pm.
  • 167-017 3:07 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:07 pm and 3:13 pm.
  • 167-018 3:13 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at Camp David from 3:13 pm to 3:15 pm.
  • 167-019 3:15 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:30 pm.
  • 167-020 3:30 PM · 12 sec — Camp David operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David at 3:30 pm.

Conversation 167-012, May 20, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/167-012 (accessed October 12, 2026).