Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 189 › Conversation 189-016

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

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 11:09 AM–2:26 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 4 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation189-016 on Tape 189 (tape position 01:29:57–01:30:06)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 11:09 AMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:26 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 189-016 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served as a logistical step for the President to initiate further communication through the camp's switchboard. No significant policy decisions were reached during this exchange, which functioned primarily as a routine telecommunications task.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Following, please.

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 11:09 am and 2:26 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 189-16

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

     [See Conversation No. 131-5]

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.
  • 189-015 11:09 AM · 36 sec — 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.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 189-016, 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/189-016 (accessed October 12, 2026).