Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 189 › Conversation 189-015
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Nikolai Podgorny and USSR
Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 11:09 AM–2:26 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 36 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon dictated a memorandum regarding his previous interactions with Nikolai Podgorny of the USSR during the funeral of Charles de Gaulle. The discussion focused on clarifying the accuracy of US intelligence reports concerning Soviet interest in meeting with the President. Nixon emphasized the need for the CIA to provide more precise assessments of these high-level diplomatic encounters.
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Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 189-15
Date: May 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President dictated a portion of a memorandum to an unknown person.
*****************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-015. Segment declassified on 04/29/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[189-015-w001]
[Duration: 36s]
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Nikolai V. Podgorny
-Charles A. J. M. de Gaulle's funeral
-US understanding of interest in meeting with the President
-Significance
-Reception
-The President's two meetings with Nikolai V. Podgorny
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Awareness of accuracy of US understanding
*****************************************************************Also recorded on May 17, 1972
- 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.
- 189-011 10:32 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:32 am and 10:33 am.
- 189-012 10:33 AM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Harry S. Dent met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:33 am to 10:43 am.
- 189-013 10:43 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 10:43 am.
- 189-014 10:52 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:52 am to 11:09 am.
- 131-005 11:09 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm.
- 189-016 11:09 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 11:09 am and 2:26 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 189-015, 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/189-015 (accessed October 24, 2026).