Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 189 › Conversation 189-019

Nixon phone call with Tkach on Manolo Sanchez and Medical care

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 2:36 PM–2:40 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Tkach, Walter R.Conversation189-019 on Tape 189 (tape position 01:36:20–01:38:19)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:36 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:40 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 189-019 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with his physician, Dr. Walter R. Tkach, regarding the medical status and transfer plans for Manolo Sanchez. Nixon directed Tkach to arrange for Sanchez’s convalescence in Florida following his medical treatment, emphasizing strict secrecy to prevent premature expectations or media attention. The President also discussed maintaining a discreet level of support by regularly expressing his well-wishes through Tkach without directly intervening in the hospital situation.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So, when is Manolo getting back?
Do you know?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I said, on Manila, Walter, I'm going to have him go to Florida.
Don't tell anybody about it, you know, anybody around, family or anybody else, because I'm just going to, Saturday morning, I've got a courier plan I have to send down anyway, and I'm going to have him be in a go with the dogs and stay there two weeks, which will be a good one.
We can sit down there.
Right.
Good.
They're not moving him today, then?
You see, the problem is I want to drop by and see him, but I don't want to see him there.
And I wouldn't do it until Friday, but you don't think he'd be at Walter Reed by Friday?
The slightest idea, nobody on our staff has the slightest idea I'm going to do this, I understand.
It'll be a draw because I don't want to build up and then not do it.
But you mean they don't think they can move him until maybe Friday?
else is still grandma.
If the pregnancy is bad, you mean if they could get the bullet out, would that change it?
I think, I think what you can just say, I called again.
I called at 2.30.
I called twice a day and that I sent my best.
They had, he already
She, she, he and Katie didn't want to talk about it.
But I, I just, just, just said that I sent my best wishes that I'm at Camp David.
Okay.
Bye.
Bye-bye.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, 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. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 189-19

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 2:36 pm - 2:40 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Dr. Walter R. Tkach..

[See Conversation No. 131-8]

Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 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.
  • 189-018 2:35 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 2:35 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.
  • 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.
  • 131-011 2:44 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:44 pm and 2:46 pm.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 189-019, 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/189-019 (accessed October 10, 2026).