Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 217 › Conversation 217-003
Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Alexander Butterfield
Friday, October 6, 1972 · 4:34 PM–8:32 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 9 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon initiates a brief telephonic request while at Camp David, asking the operator to connect him with H.R. Haldeman’s aide, Alexander Butterfield. This exchange serves as a logistical communication intended to facilitate direct contact with White House staff. No further discussion occurs beyond the request for the connection.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 October 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:34 pm and 8:32 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 217-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 217-3 Date: October 6, 1972 Time: Unknown between 4:34 pm and 8:32 pm Location: Camp David Hard Wire The President talked with the Camp David operator. [See Conversation No. 147-1]
Also recorded on October 6, 1972
- 354-030 2:32 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:32 pm and 2:35 pm.
- 354-031 2:35 PM · 45 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:35 pm to 3:22 pm.
- 031-022 3:22 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:22 pm.
- 354-032 3:22 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:22 pm.
- 354-033 3:22 PM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:22 pm and 3:24 pm.
- 354-034 3:24 PM · 26 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Charles W. Colson, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:24 pm to 3:55 pm.
- 217-001 4:34 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:34 pm and 8:32 pm.
- 217-002 4:34 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:34 pm and 8:32 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 217-003, October 6, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/217-003 (accessed October 12, 2026).