Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 190 › Conversation 190-012

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Camp David

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 7:20 AM–7:46 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)]Conversation190-012 onTape 190 (tape position 00:49:58–00:53:18)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 7:20 AMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 7:46 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 190-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with an unknown individual, likely a staff member or aide, to discuss logistical arrangements at Camp David. The conversation centered on the scheduling of dinner guests, involving Alexander Butterfield and a doctor, as well as plans for the President's return to the White House. The brief exchange focused primarily on administrative coordination and confirming the headcount for evening entertainment.

Audio

Download MP3 · 106.1 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 00:49:58 into the tape and ends around 00:53:18.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) ·JSON data · Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.

51:04Butterfield, a doctor.
51:10Four tonight.
51:12Four tonight.
51:16I can't think of it.
51:18Go back.
51:19I think that's it.
51:22I think that's it.
51:23I think that's it.

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 7:20 am and 7:46 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 190-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 190-12

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: Unknown after 7:20 and before 7:46 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President met with an unknown person.

       Greetings

       [Unintelligible]

       Number of people

       Dinner guests

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

              -Alexander P. Butterfield
              -A doctor
              -Secretary

       Return to White House

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 7:46 am.

Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 131-021 7:46 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 7:46 am.
  • 190-013 7:46 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 7:46 am.
  • 131-022 7:50 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 7:50 am.
  • 190-014 7:50 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 7:50 am.
  • 190-015 7:50 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:50 am and 7:59 am.
  • 190-016 7:50 AM · 57 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:50 am and 7:59 am.
  • 190-017 7:59 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:59 am and 8:05 am.
  • 190-018 8:05 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:05 am and 8:44 am.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 190-012, 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/190-012 (accessed September 18, 2026).