Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 186 › Conversation 186-002

Hirsch & Sumrell on Camp David and recording equipment

Friday, February 2, 1973 · 3:43 PM–8:50 PM ET · Camp David Study Desk · 32 sec

ParticipantsHirsch, William; Sumrell, Charles C. ("Charlie")Conversation186-002 on Tape 186StartFriday, February 2, 1973 at 3:43 PMEndFriday, February 2, 1973 at 8:50 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study DeskSourceNixon Library record for 186-002 ↗

AI Summary

William Hirsch and Charles Sumrell coordinate the retrieval of recording equipment and tapes located in the den at Camp David. They discuss the logistics of whether to transport the entire machine or simply remove the tapes for collection. The conversation concludes with the decision to bring both the tapes and the smaller recording device to the requested location.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Almost there, sir.
Yeah, Charlie, it's Hershey.
Uh-huh.
Hey, do you want the whole machine or just the tape?
The one in the den, just give me the tapes, and you can get the tape off the little one, just the tapes.
Okay, well, I'll bring the whole little one.
Okay, fine.

NARA Description

On February 2, 1973, William Hirsch and Charles C. ("Charlie") Sumrell talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 186-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 186-2

Date: February 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm
Location: Camp David Study Desk

William Hirsch talked with Charlie C. Sumrell.

       Taping system
              -Machine and tapes
                     -Location
                            -Den

Also recorded on February 2, 1973

  • 186-001 3:43 PM · 42 sec — Camp David operator, William Hirsch, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-003 3:43 PM · 4 min — Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, Paul ("Stern") Kissinger, and Louis Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-004 3:43 PM · 3 min — Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, unknown person(s), and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-005 3:43 PM · 3 min — Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, and Cmdr. Jonathan T. Howe talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-006 3:43 PM · 20 sec — Charles C. ("Charlie") Sumrell and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-007 3:43 PM · 33 sec — Frank A. Sisco, Camp David operator, and Charles A. Grunden talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-008 3:43 PM · 6 min — Frank A. Sisco, Camp David operator, unknown person(s), and Farrell D. Morlan talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-009 3:43 PM · 2 min — Charles C. ("Charlie") Sumrell, Camp David operator, and Farrell D. Morlan talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.

All 33 conversations from February 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 186-002, February 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/186-002 (accessed October 10, 2026).