Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 196 › Conversation 196-028

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on George Smathers

Sunday, July 23, 1972 · 3:05 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 37 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation196-028 on Tape 196StartSunday, July 23, 1972 at 3:05 PMEndSunday, July 23, 1972 at 3:05 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 196-028 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone call to former Senator George Smathers. The President requested that the operator coordinate with the White House switchboard to locate Smathers, who was reportedly in North Carolina at the time. Nixon provided instructions to prioritize reaching the former Senator but specified that the attempt could be postponed until the following morning if immediate contact proved difficult.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I would like to get a call to Senator, former Senator George Smatters.
He, the White House operator, probably has a number for him in Florida or in Washington.
I understand that he's in North Carolina today.
And if it's too difficult to reach them, don't bother.
You don't need to call them back.
But just leave the call to the White House operator.
If they don't reach you today, they can put it through tomorrow morning.
Okay.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On July 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 3:05 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 196-028 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 196-28

Date: July 23, 1972
Time: 3:05 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 136-29]

Also recorded on July 23, 1972

  • 136-028 2:35 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David at 2:35 pm.
  • 196-029 3:05 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:05 pm and 3:08 pm.
  • 196-030 3:08 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 3:08 pm to 3:27 pm.
  • 136-031 3:27 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David at 3:27 pm.
  • 136-032 3:27 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 4:03 pm.
  • 196-031 3:27 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 4:03 pm.
  • 196-032 3:27 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 4:03 pm.
  • 196-033 3:27 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 4:03 pm.

All 52 conversations from July 23, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 196-028, July 23, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/196-028 (accessed October 12, 2026).