Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 188 › Conversation 188-005

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

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 5:34 PM–5:44 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 2 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation188-005 on Tape 188 (tape position 00:19:31–00:19:48)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:34 PMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:44 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 188-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon communicated with a Camp David operator to address an issue regarding a missing or improperly positioned communication link. The discussion centered on the status of a specific wire or equipment connection that was not currently functional. No broader policy or administrative developments resulted from 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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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 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 188-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 188-005

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 130-3]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 188-006 5:44 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 5:44 pm to 5:45 pm.
  • 130-005 5:45 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:45 pm and 5:55 pm.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 188-005, 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/188-005 (accessed October 10, 2026).