WHITE HOUSE TAPES The President Calling

Three presidents, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, recorded conversations from their telephones and offices, and thousands of hours of these voice archives exist for study. Kennedy started recording when he discovered that what people said to him in private wasn't what they said in public afterward. Johnson describes to his tailor how many inches below his "nuts" he wants the crotch of his trousers cut. Nixon complains to a friend about the annoyance of Watergate but predicts it will go away in time. All three used foul language on the phone, and only the presidents knew the recordings were taking place. This magnetic fodder recently became fair game for historians, who are just beginning to crack open these audio windows into power and influence. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 04]