white house taping system was during presidency of richard nixon. nixon began creditly taping conversations and telephone calls in multiple locations of the white house in 1971 including the oval office. we are going to time and time again, the president s words were clear. [inaudible]. the president was acting like he had absolute power. [inaudible]. even the president s own family was taped. i have for your sir. hello. hi daddy. it was among nix count s recordings one night in 1972 that proved to be the smoking