RICHARD NIXON TAPES: "Merry Christmas, Operator"

White House Telephone Operator & RN
December 25, 1971
017-060
White House Telephone

President Richard Nixon wishes the White House operator a Merry Christmas before asking her to place calls to several of his cabinet officers.

(Photo: Richard and Pat Nixon with baby Tricia in front of their house, 1946.)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• President
• Richard
• Nixon
• White
• House
• Tapes
• phone
• call
• telephone
• Christmas
• holidays
• friendly
• family
• calls
• Congress
• Milhous

[djembelife]

Butts = Earl Butz, a Nixon cronny.

[rmm413c]

Butz was Nixon's Secretary of Agriculture.

[elperromagico]

I've always gotten the impression that Nixon was a man who wanted badly to be liked but simply lacked the people skills necessary to do it. He got pretty damn far without them, though.

[waynescooby]

I feel that the core of Nixon, however complex he was, was very good

[matrix49A]

@djembelife Not a kennedy cronnie or a Clinton cronnie or even a obama cronnie

[ebonics4everyone]

Nixon sounds like a pleasant guy to work for on Christmas. Not that I'd work on Christmas. I'd quit or get fired for being drunk. But thanks for posting this.

[Derby14]

Whether he asked her name or not...it was nice of him to wish her a Merry Christmas. She was not a political ally or enemy,,,just someone he was passing well wishes to. Thank you for posting this.

[mynameisjim93]

Very good point

[TheFrogger15]

It would have been nice if he had asked her name and not just refer to her as "Operator".

[waynescooby]

Indeed. I look to many things beyond sentiment to formulate this opinion. This video was simply the platform upon which I stated that opinion.

[waynescooby]

Thank you very much indeed

[waynescooby]

And yet the mark of a man is what others said of him. I'm not Dick Nixon and therefore your point is moot.

[waynescooby]

You are an idiot. If you watch the REAL David Frost interview, you will find that the quote used in the play and film, 'Frost/Nixon' was altered and that contextually, he was speaking to the constitutional legality presented by Mr. Frost. It was less of an outright defense of any action or inaction on his part, than a response to the question posed by Mr. Frost.