Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 725 › Conversation 725-018

Nixon with unidentified visitors in the Oval Office on George Wallace

Tuesday, May 16, 1972 · 9:59 AM–10:00 AM ET · Oval Office

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation725-018 on Tape 725 (tape position 02:03:30–02:04:49)StartTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 9:59 AMEndTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 10:00 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 725-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon discusses the recent assassination attempt on George Wallace with a White House operator, expressing skepticism about the shooter's political affiliation and motives. He highlights his decision to order Secret Service coverage for Ted Kennedy and contrasts the massive security detail assigned to the Kennedy family with his own philosophy on presidential risk. The conversation serves as a reflection on political violence and the logistical challenges of protecting high-profile public figures.

Audio

Download MP3 (part 1) · 167.3 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 168.1 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 100.2 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 02:03:30 into the tape and ends around 02:04:49.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

· Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.
2:02:34Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
2:02:39The guy is crazy, probably.
2:02:42See, he was wearing balls buttons, but we find he was a member of the Wisconsin Young Democrats.
2:02:46So, of course, that's a very left-wing outfit, so you can't tell.
2:02:59I don't know.
2:03:05Yeah.
2:03:08Yeah.
2:03:08Yeah.
2:03:09Yeah.
2:03:09What's the reaction down there?
2:03:13Yeah.
2:03:14You noticed that I ordered coverage for Kennedy.
2:03:16Yeah.
2:03:16I made a little statement, too, if you noticed.
2:03:23Did that come through without locking the barrel down there?
2:03:25Yeah.
2:03:28Today I'd like to offer the presidential suite and that's very good preparation if you want.
2:03:50Yeah.
2:03:51Well, he had 50 secret service men.
2:03:5250, not with him, but about probably 25 with him, but he had 50 assigned to him.
2:03:55For eight years, his vice president had two.
2:03:58You know, and, uh, and, uh, and got share with these dudes in the bar.
2:04:00And, uh, and so what the hell?
2:04:02And if anyone wants to kill you, you can take the ticket.
2:04:05That means that... For me, hell no.
2:04:06I'm a mutant.
2:04:15Back to what I used to be.
2:04:17I'm out of home.
2:04:21You can't be afraid.
2:04:21Turn away and be afraid.
2:04:31Yeah, yeah.
2:04:34He was a hell of a bad shot, or if not, Wallace would be dead.
2:04:37Oh, yeah.
2:04:39The poor fellow may get a carol, probably.
2:04:41Yeah, yeah.
2:04:41Thank God.
2:04:46Well, I have to tell you, I've been hoping to be down Saturday with the dogs for two weeks, and Saturday morning.
2:04:51All right.
2:04:51All right, fine.

NARA Description

On May 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:59 am and 10:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 725-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 725-18

Date: May 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:59 am and 10:00 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with the White House operator.

      [See Conversation No. 24-145]

Also recorded on May 16, 1972

  • 024-142 9:50 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:50 am and 9:56 am.
  • 024-143 9:56 AM · 25 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 9:56 am to 9:57 am.
  • 024-144 9:57 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 9:57 am to 9:59 am.
  • 725-017 9:57 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:57 am and 9:59 am.
  • 024-145 9:59 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:59 am and 10:00 am.
  • 024-146 10:00 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone from 10:00 am to 10:05 am.
  • 725-019 10:00 AM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, and Walter R. Tkach met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:00 am and 10:05 am.
  • 725-020 10:05 AM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:05 am and 10:11 am.

All 113 conversations from May 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 725-018, May 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/725-018 (accessed October 9, 2026).