Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 502 › Conversation 502-021
Nixon White House recording on Technical communication and Numeric data
Thursday, May 20, 1971 · 3:58 PM–9:43 PM ET · Oval Office · 19 sec
AI Summary
This recording captures a brief exchange between unidentified individuals regarding the transmission or verification of a long numeric sequence. The dialogue consists of a confirmation of understanding followed by the recitation of a twenty-digit string, which may have served as a code or a technical identifier. Due to the limited nature of the audio and the lack of identifying context, the specific intent behind the numerical communication remains indeterminable.
- Technical communication
- Numeric data
- Security protocols
- White House operations
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
NARA Description
On May 20, 1971, unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:58 pm and 9:43 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 502-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 502-21 Date: May 20, 1971 Time: Unknown between 3:58 pm and 9:43 pm Location: Oval Office An unknown person talked with an unknown person. ****************************************************************************** [Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and cleared for release. The withdrawal is now categorized as a PRMPA Federal Statute (A) and was reviewed under deed of gift 02/11/2019.] [Federal Statute] [502-021-w001] [Duration: 18s] ****************************************************************************** The unknown person left at an unknown time before 9:43 pm.
Also recorded on May 20, 1971
- 502-020 2:47 PM · 1 hr 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, Stephen B. Bull, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, unknown person(s) [Arnold R. Weber's secretary], Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:47 pm to 3:58 pm.
- 003-089 3:15 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, the White House operator, and Arnold R. Weber's secretary, Mrs. [First name unknown] Lee talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:43 pm.
- 003-090 3:43 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Arnold R. Weber's secretary, Mrs. [First name unknown] Lee talked on the telephone from 3:43 pm to 3:44 pm.
- 003-091 3:49 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:49 pm and 3:53 pm.
- 003-092 3:51 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone at 3:51 pm.
- 003-093 3:51 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:51 pm and 3:56 pm.
- 003-094 3:56 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 3:56 pm to 3:57 pm.
- 003-095 3:57 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 7:46 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 502-021, May 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/502-021 (accessed October 10, 2026).