Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 188 › Conversation 188-001

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Camp David and Telecommunications

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 5:20 PM–5:30 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 4 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation188-001 on Tape 188 (tape position 00:10:54–00:11:29)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:20 PMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:30 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 188-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge study to handle routine telecommunications logistics. The brief interaction focused on facilitating necessary administrative connectivity for the President during his stay at the retreat. No substantive policy discussions or major strategic decisions occurred during this brief exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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in the Hall of Completion.

NARA Description

On May 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:20 pm and 5:30 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 188-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 188-001

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:20 pm and 5:30 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 130-1]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 130-001 5:20 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:20 pm and 5:30 pm.
  • 130-002 5:30 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:30 pm to 5:34 pm.
  • 188-002 5:30 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 5:30 pm to 5:34 pm.
  • 130-003 5:34 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 188-003 5:34 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 188-004 5:34 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Beverly J. Kaye met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 188-005 5:34 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 130-004 5:44 PM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:44 pm to 5:45 pm.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 188-001, May 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/188-001 (accessed October 10, 2026).