Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 186 › Conversation 186-003
Kissinger & Camp David Operator on Family relations and Hanoi
Friday, February 2, 1973 · 3:43 PM–8:50 PM ET · Camp David Study Desk · 4 min
AI Summary
Henry Kissinger placed a personal call from Camp David to his father, Louis Kissinger, and his sister-in-law, Paula Stern Kissinger, to wish his father a happy birthday and discuss recent events. The family members praised Kissinger’s recent television appearance and discussed his upcoming diplomatic trip to Hanoi. Despite his family’s concerns regarding his safety, Kissinger expressed confidence in his security detail and promised to call again before his departure.
- Henry Kissinger
- Family relations
- Hanoi
- Television appearance
- Personal correspondence
- Diplomatic travel
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On February 2, 1973, 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. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 186-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 186-3
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 186-9 (cont’d)
Date: February 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm
Location: Camp David Study Desk
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the Camp David operator.
Request for a call to New York
-Telephone number
Kissinger talked with Louis Kissinger and Paula Stern Kissinger.
[See Conversation No. 241-1]
Kissinger’s television [TV] appearance
-Paula Kissinger’s view
Kissinger’s role
-Trip to Hanoi
-Secret Service
-Safety
Louis Kissinger’s birthday
-Visit to Washington, DC
-Cufflinks and books
-1973 Inauguration
-Barbara Walters
Kissinger’s location
Kissinger’s schedule
-Dinner with Roy R. G. Heath
-Trip to Hanoi
-Telephone call from Kissinger
Kissinger’s appearance
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 186-9 (cont’d)
-Louis Kissinger’s viewAlso 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.
- 186-002 3:43 PM · 32 sec — 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.
- 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.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 186-003, 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/186-003 (accessed October 10, 2026).