Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 588 › Conversation 588-019

Nixon White House recording on Oval Office and Audio Recording

Tuesday, October 12, 1971 · 2:21 PM–2:26 PM ET · Oval Office · 35 sec

Participants[Unknown person(s)]Conversation588-019 on Tape 588 (tape position 04:11:36–04:15:18)StartTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 2:21 PMEndTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 2:26 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 588-019 ↗

This brief interaction consists of muffled background noise and ambient audio captured within the Oval Office. The segment lacks substantive policy discussion or identifiable participants, as the recording consists primarily of tape interference. Consequently, no significant political developments, decisions, or historical actions were recorded during this timeframe.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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On October 12, 1971, unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 2:26 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 588-019 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 588-19

Date: October 12, 1971
Time: Unknown between 2:21 pm and 2:26 pm
Location: Oval Office

Unknown people met.

**********************************************************************

[Previous non-historical (H) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 07/24/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Non-Historical]
[588-019-w001]
[Duration: 34s]

[This portion of the tape is mostly tape noise with some muffled background conversation.]

**********************************************************************

The unknown people left at an unknown time before 2:26 pm.
  • 011-064 1:55 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 1:55 pm to 1:59 pm.
  • 011-065 1:59 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:59 pm and 9:07 pm.
  • 011-066 1:59 PM · 2 min — Henry A. Kissinger and Elliot L. Richardson talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:59 pm and 9:07 pm.
  • 011-067 1:59 PM · 11 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:59 pm and 9:07 pm.
  • 011-068 1:59 PM · 21 sec — the White House operator and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:59 pm and 9:07 pm.
  • 011-069 1:59 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:59 pm and 9:07 pm.
  • 588-020 2:26 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 2:34 pm.
  • 588-021 2:31 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:31 pm to 2:45 pm.

Conversation 588-019, October 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/588-019 (accessed September 28, 2026).