Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 220 › Conversation 220-020

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on 1972 Presidential Campaign

Sunday, October 15, 1972 · 12:14 PM–7:53 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 9 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation220-020 on Tape 220StartSunday, October 15, 1972 at 12:14 PMEndSunday, October 15, 1972 at 7:53 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 220-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon recorded a memorandum at Camp David to summarize his recent meetings and observations regarding his 1972 re-election campaign. He reflected on various interactions, including social gatherings with athletes and political supporters, while evaluating his outreach efforts with Hispanic communities and local officials. Additionally, he assessed the delicate state of Vietnam peace negotiations, noting the strategic risks involved in reaching a settlement prior to the presidential election.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 7 minutes of this recording (about 74% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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We came out here last night and we had a very good pool with a lot of alcohol.

I had to call my mother and tell her that it was my...

uh four times

and Bobby Thompson and Ralph Reiner, they were much greater than that.

And I expect this to be very interesting.

And I remarked to them that many athletics are the most glorious characters.

I hope they are.

And I hope they keep going.

And I hope they're a fine example of what's been done around the world.

And of course, I will look with my own remarks

As we, uh, as I was coming out, I ran into a little lobby and I heard her say something.

She saw me, she turned to me and said, Oh, I'm just telling the boys that, uh,

Yeah, this is one of my favorite songs.

And if you look at it, there's more of it than you can call.

This, of course, again, reminds me of my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-

... ... ... ...

uh, with his, uh, editor, and his wife.

And his editor is a good actor, and he's a great guy, and he's a great editor, and he's a great director, and he's a great editor, and he's a great editor, and he's a great editor,

And, as well, probably the treatment for the ears and for the sense.

It's probably just not in charge of what you've done, so it's pretty, that's a strong line.

There's a natural way to look at that, but I'll give you the coverage.

I'll give you the coverage.

I'm going to attempt to get her to be stuttered on.

I'm like, where is she going to head?

Because it's not what we have here.

The metal is probably sometimes very small.

I'm 12, so I'm going to imagine that she's going to head.

I'm going to call her and I'll surprise her with my fingers.

... ... ... ...

On the next attention to the local police station, we came in with a security check.

Joe Anderson, same day, with my central officer.

On the next attention to the local police station, we came in with a security check.

Yes.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

As far as the election is concerned, a settlement would not be a good focus.

But there were risks, and there were barriers.

If you were to go to an election, you would lose.

... ... ... ...

Thank you.

NARA Description

On October 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:14 pm and 7:53 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 220-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 220-020

Date: October 15, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:14 pm and 7:53 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President dictated a memorandum for the file.

*****************************************************************

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/17/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[220-020-w001]
[Duration: 8m 28s]

       The President's schedule
              -Trip to Camp David on October 15, 1972
                      -Arrival on October 14, 1972
                      -Robert H. Abplanalp
                      -Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
                      -Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis
                              -Refreshment
                                      -Menu
              -The President's October 13, 1972 meetings
                      -Clare Merritt (Hodgson) Ruth, Bobby Thomson, Ralph Branca
                      -Baseball
                      -Athletes as role models
                              -The President’s opinion of George H. (“Babe”) Ruth
                                      -World Series
                      -The President’s opinion of Clare Merritt (Hodgson) Ruth
              -Campaign anecdote
              -Hugh Scott
              -The President’s October 13, 1972 meetings
                      -James S. Copley, Margaret Helen (Kinney) Copley, and Victor H. Krulak
                      -James S. Copley
                              -The President’s description
                                      -Health
                      -Support
              -October 12, 1972
              -Foreign relations
                      -Chou En-lai
                      -People's Republic of China [PRC]
                      -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
              -The President's October 13, 1972 meetings
                      -Joe D. Waggonner, Jr.
              -The President's October 12, 1972 trip to Atlanta, Georgia
                      -Meeting with Hispanic supporters

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

                     -Governors and mayors
                     -The President’s reception
               -Revenue-sharing signing ceremony in Philadelphia
                     -Frank L. Rizzo

       Vietnam negotiations
             -Possible settlement
                    -Potential impact on forthcoming US presidential election
                    -Nguyen Van Thieu
                    -Henry A. Kissinger's schedule
                             -Hanoi, Paris

*****************************************************************

Also recorded on October 15, 1972

149-011 11:24 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 11:24 am.
149-012 11:24 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:35 am.
149-013 11:24 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 12:00 pm.
220-015 11:24 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 11:24 am.
220-016 11:24 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:35 am.
149-014 12:00 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 12:00 pm to 12:14 pm.
220-018 12:00 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 12:00 pm to 12:14 pm.
220-019 12:14 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:14 pm and 7:53 pm.

All 23 conversations from October 15, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 220-020, October 15, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/220-020 (accessed October 10, 2026).