February 13, 1972

On February 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:25 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-088 of the White House Tapes.

President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate urgent communications with Secretary of State William P. Rogers and Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman. This administrative interaction reflects the President's effort to coordinate key personnel shortly before his historic trip to China. The brief exchange served as a logistical necessity to establish direct contact with his top advisors.