Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 189 › Conversation 189-018
Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Camp David and Telecommunications
Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 2:35 PM–2:36 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire ·6 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection. The primary purpose of the brief interaction was to request that the operator place a call to a Dr. Dukash. No other substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this exchange.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 189-18 Date: May 17, 1972 Time: Unknown between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm Location: Camp David Hard Wire The President talked with the Camp David operator. [See Conversation No. 131-7]
Also recorded on May 17, 1972
- 131-006 2:26 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:26 pm to 2:35 pm.
- 131-007 2:35 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm.
- 131-008 2:36 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
- 189-019 2:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
- 131-009 2:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:42 pm.
- 189-020 2:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:42 pm.
- 131-010 2:42 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:42 pm to 2:44 pm.
- 189-021 2:42 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:42 pm to 2:44 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 189-018, 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/189-018 (accessed September 18, 2026).