President Nixon directs the White House operator to place a call to Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird. This request follows a private consultation between the President and National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger regarding national security or defense-related matters. The conversation functions primarily as an administrative step to facilitate immediate communication between the President and the Secretary of Defense.
On April 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:23 am and 9:27 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 23-15 Date: April 18, 1972 Time: Unknown between 9:23 and 9:27 am Location: White House Telephone The President talked with the White House operator. [See also Conversation No. 711-3B] The President conferred with Henry A. Kissinger at an unknown time before the conversation began. Request for a call to Melvin R. Laird
This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.