Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 717 › Conversation 717-005

Nixon with unidentified visitors in the Oval Office on Rose Mary Woods

Tuesday, May 2, 1972 · 11:04 AM ET · Oval Office · 24 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation717-005 on Tape 717 (tape position 00:13:03–00:13:30)StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 11:04 AMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 11:04 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 717-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs the White House operator to manage his incoming communications by routing calls to Rose Mary Woods if he is unavailable. This brief interaction establishes protocol for handling priority calls during the President's potential absence from the office. No further policy or strategic developments were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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call through when he gets back.
I may be, if I am out, put it through to Miss Woods

NARA Description

On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:04 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 717-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 717-5

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 11:04 am
Location: Oval Office

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 23-108]

Also recorded on May 2, 1972

  • 023-105 10:55 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 10:57 am.
  • 717-002 10:55 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 10:57 am.
  • 023-106 10:57 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone from 10:57 am to 10:58 am.
  • 717-003 10:57 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:57 am to 10:58 am.
  • 717-004 10:58 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:58 am and 11:04 am.
  • 023-108 11:04 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:04 am.
  • 717-006 11:04 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:04 am and 11:10 am.
  • 717-007 11:10 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:10 am to 11:11 am.

All 67 conversations from May 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 717-005, May 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/717-005 (accessed October 10, 2026).