Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 189 › Conversation 189-007

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Soviet Summit and Vietnam War

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 9:51 AM–9:52 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 8 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation189-007 on Tape 189 (tape position 00:24:35–00:25:38)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 9:51 AMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 9:52 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 189-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Henry Kissinger regarding the strategic objectives and logistical preparations for his upcoming summit in the Soviet Union. The discussion centered on managing diplomatic channels with Leonid Brezhnev and Andrei Gromyko, as well as coordinating official toasts and speeches for the Soviet audience. Additionally, they reviewed ongoing military operations in Vietnam, including the effectiveness of current air strikes and domestic political challenges posed by Congressional opposition to the war.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:51 am and 9:52 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 189-7

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:51 am and 9:52 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

     Request for a call to Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 189-002 9:33 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:33 am and 9:34 am.
  • 189-003 9:34 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:34 am to 9:41 am.
  • 189-004 9:41 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:41 am and 9:44 am.
  • 189-005 9:44 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William M. Lukash met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:44 am to 9:46 am.
  • 189-006 9:48 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:48 am to 9:51 am.
  • 189-008 9:52 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:52 am to 10:06 am.
  • 189-009 10:06 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Beverly J. Kaye met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:15 am.
  • 189-010 10:15 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:15 am to 10:32 am.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 189-007, May 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/189-007 (accessed October 12, 2026).