Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 238 › Conversation 238-004

Nixon phone call with Larzelere on Camp David and Transportation

Saturday, December 30, 1972 · 11:51 AM–11:52 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 59 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Larzelere, Alexander R. (Cmdr.)Conversation238-004 on Tape 238StartSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 11:51 AMEndSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 11:52 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 238-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Commander Alexander R. Larzelere at Camp David to coordinate transportation arrangements for First Lady Pat Nixon's return to the White House. The President requested that a helicopter be prepared for her departure between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m., while also designating the flight as the primary means for transporting official documents and signed materials. Larzelere was instructed to ensure the aircraft was ready or to arrange for a motorcade alternative if weather or other conditions prevented air travel.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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say, Mrs. Nixon is trying to go back to the White House tonight.

She's looking right after we have finished.

She's got to go by 7 o'clock.

Tell me, the helicopter can get off from here, all right?

Can it?

Or what's the situation?

Let's see.

Yeah.

Well, in the event that the helicopter doesn't go, she'll go down in the car.

You know what I mean?

So you'll check it out, will you?

She'd like to go around, have it all stand by between 7 and 7.30.

Either the helicopter or the car, but she's going to go either way.

But I prefer the helicopter since we've got things to send down anyway.

And just save everything for that time.

I mean, I've got some written material here that I've just signed up as to go down.

But save it all, have it all go down.

She can go on that plane.

Thank you.

Bye.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Cmdr. Alexander R. Larzelere met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:51 am to 11:52 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 238-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 238-4

Date: December 30, 1972
Time: 11:51 am - 11:52 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Commander Alexander R. Larzelere

[See Conversation No. 158-42]

Also recorded on December 30, 1972

158-042 11:51 AM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Cmdr. Alexander R. Larzelere talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:51 am to 11:52 am.
158-043 11:52 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 11:52 am.
158-044 11:52 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:52 am to 11:53 am.
238-005 11:52 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 11:52 am.
238-006 11:52 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:52 am to 11:53 am.
158-045 11:53 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:53 am and 11:54 am.
238-007 11:53 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:53 am and 11:54 am.
158-046 11:54 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:54 am to 11:56 am.

All 64 conversations from December 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 238-004, December 30, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/238-004 (accessed October 11, 2026).