Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 239 › Conversation 239-005

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Telecommunications and Camp David

Friday, January 5, 1973 · 8:31 PM–8:47 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 22 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation239-005 on Tape 239StartFriday, January 5, 1973 at 8:31 PMEndFriday, January 5, 1973 at 8:47 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 239-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator to establish communication protocols for reaching a specific individual. The discussion focused on identifying viable contact methods, specifically determining whether the party could be reached via radio or if a standard telephone line was required. No substantive policy matters were addressed, as the conversation served purely as a logistical coordination for an outgoing call.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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If he's at, you know, on a walker's or someplace, the radio don't get him, but if he's at a place on a normal phone, I'll talk to him.
Okay.

NARA Description

On January 5, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:31 pm and 8:47 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 239-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 239-5

Date: January 5, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:31 pm and 8:47 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 160-5]

Also recorded on January 6, 1973

  • 160-004 8:27 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:27 pm to 8:31 pm.
  • 239-004 8:27 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:27 pm to 8:31 pm.
  • 160-005 8:31 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:31 pm and 8:47 pm.
  • 239-010 8:31 PM · 12 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:31 pm and 8:47 pm.
  • 160-006 8:47 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:47 pm to 8:49 pm.
  • 239-006 8:47 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:47 pm to 8:49 pm.
  • 160-007 8:49 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:49 pm to 8:50 pm.
  • 239-007 8:49 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:49 pm to 8:50 pm.

All 37 conversations from January 6, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 239-005, January 6, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/239-005 (accessed October 11, 2026).