Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 169 › Conversation 169-012

Nixon phone call with Camp David operator on Henry Kissinger

Wednesday, June 20, 1973 · 9:22 AM–9:27 AM ET · Camp David Study Table · 14 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David operatorConversation169-012 on Tape 169StartWednesday, June 20, 1973 at 9:22 AMEndWednesday, June 20, 1973 at 9:27 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 169-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent connection with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical bridge to initiate a direct consultation with Kissinger. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange, as its sole purpose was to establish the telephonic link between the President and his advisor.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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This way, Dr. Kissinger.
Thank you, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On June 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:22 am and 9:27 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 169-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 169-12

Date: June 20, 1973
Time: Unknown between 9:22 am and 9:27 am
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

     Request for telephone call
          Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on June 20, 1973

  • 169-011 9:22 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:22 am and 9:27 am.
  • 169-013 9:27 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 9:27 am to 9:30 am.
  • 169-014 9:30 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:30 am and 9:38 am.
  • 169-015 9:30 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:30 am and 9:38 am.
  • 169-016 9:38 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David from 9:38 am to 9:42 am.
  • 169-017 9:42 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:42 am and 11:21 am.
  • 169-018 9:42 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:42 am and 11:21 am.
  • 169-019 11:21 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:21 am and 11:24 am.

All 31 conversations from June 20, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 169-012, June 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/169-012 (accessed October 12, 2026).