Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 237 › Conversation 237-037
Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Kenneth Rush
Friday, December 29, 1972 · 6:52 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 19 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to connect him with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kenneth Rush. The President specified that he did not want to interrupt Rush if he was currently at a social gathering, requesting instead that he be reached at his home if available. This call reflects the President’s attempt to establish communication with top defense leadership while stationed at Camp David.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 December 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 6:52 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 237-037 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 237-37 Date: December 29, 1972 Time: 6:52 pm Location: Camp David Hard Wire The President talked with the Camp David operator. [See Conversation No. 158-29]
Also recorded on December 29, 1972
- 158-027 6:44 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:44 pm and 6:49 pm.
- 158-028 6:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy talked on the telephone at Camp David from 6:49 pm to 6:52 pm.
- 237-036 6:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 6:49 pm to 6:52 pm.
- 158-029 6:52 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 6:52 pm.
- 158-030 6:52 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 6:52 pm.
- 158-031 6:52 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:52 pm and 7:02 pm.
- 237-038 6:52 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 6:52 pm.
- 237-039 6:52 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:52 pm and 7:02 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 237-037, December 29, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/237-037 (accessed October 9, 2026).