Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 190 › Conversation 190-005

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Vietnam War and Propaganda

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 5:57 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 11 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation190-005 on Tape 190 (tape position 00:09:47–00:20:42)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 5:57 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 5:57 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 190-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to relay a directive to intelligence agencies—specifically mentioning Richard Helms’ organization—demanding immediate, creative propaganda strategies regarding the Vietnam War. Frustrated by a perceived lack of initiative, Nixon insisted that staff work through the night to develop non-routine ideas that could strike terror into the enemy. The conversation concluded with the President emphasizing the urgency of the situation and acknowledging the ongoing efforts of the support staff.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:09:47 – 00:20:42

190a.mp3

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Okay, I'll thank you.
Hey, Mr. Stuart Alsop.
He's the columnist in Washington, D.C., the White House operator.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 5:57 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 190-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 190-5

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 5:57 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 131-15]

Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 131-042 5:30 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 190-001 5:30 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 190-002 5:30 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 190-003 5:30 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:48 pm.
  • 131-014 5:48 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:48 pm to 5:57 pm.
  • 190-004 5:48 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:48 pm and 5:57 pm.
  • 131-015 5:57 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:57 pm.
  • 190-006 6:40 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Beverly J. Kaye, and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:40 pm and 7:33 pm.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 190-005, 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/190-005 (accessed October 18, 2026).