Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, Galesburg native Mike Ebbing recalls hoping for an assignment that would send him anywhere other than Vietnam. Eventually, what was pitched as a top-secret military assignment led to a position that would connect Ebbing to President Richard Nixon. The rest, as they say, is history.
A 1965 Galesburg High School graduate, Ebbing served with the White House Communications Agency from 1970-72 where he was stationed as a White House switchboard operator at the Camp David Presidential Retreat. During that time, Ebbing handled hundreds of historic telephone calls with President Richard Nixon.
In Part 1 of an exclusive interview with The Register-Mail conducted via email, Ebbing spoke on his life as a White House switchboard operator, including memorable trips nationally and abroad with the traveling White House, the recognizable people he reported to, and some of the personality traits of Nixon.
More: Galesburg native brings economic knowledge to White House council: Q&A with Laura Tiehen
Part 2 of the interview will chronicle some of the calls Ebbing placed for Nixon, including to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes, and the Apollo 15 astronauts. Ebbing also reflects on how Nixon’s personality changed as the Watergate scandal unfolded in the White House.
Part 2: Galesburg man could get anyone on White House line for Nixon, from astronauts to Kissinger
Camp David Conversations: Mike Ebbing and President Richard Nixon
Galesburg native Mike Ebbing served with the White House Communications Agency from 1970-72 where he handled telephone calls with Richard Nixon.
Steve Davis, Galesburg Register-Mail
I was drafted into the U.S. Army just six months after graduating from the University of Iowa in 1969. At the time, I was employed as a sportswriter for the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa. Since most draftees were being sent to Vietnam, I took a recruiter’s advice and enlisted for a third year, hoping to utilize my college degree somewhere other than Vietnam.
About halfway through basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, there was a bulletin-board post in the barracks about a special assembly the next day that involved top-secret government work. Since nearly everyone savored a break from the rigorous training regimen, around 500 troops crowded into a huge building for the briefing.
Two guys (white shirts and ties) didn’t offer a lot of information other than the assignment was top secret and would require an FBI background check plus a security clearance.
They cautioned, “If you were involved with any type of drugs, don’t bother to come back to the next day’s briefing.” The following day, only 75 troops returned.
We were told they were recruiting for the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), an elite organization that provided communications support for the president of the United States.
After the screening process, I was fortunate to be selected as one of only three candidates from the initial group of 500. Following basic training, I was sent to switchboard school at Fort Gordon, Georgia, while the FBI began my intensive background check. I later learned that several friends, family, work associates and teachers back in Galesburg were part of the intensive FBI follow-up.
Years later, some of those people admitted that they thought I was in serious trouble since the FBI was in Galesburg asking a lot of questions about me. I was advised that after the eight-week switchboard school, I would get my orders, but they would be revoked, and I would be placed on what was called “White House Hold.”
Sure enough, I received orders to be shipped to Long Bihn Airport in Vietnam. That was probably the most nervous two hours of my life, but indeed the orders were revoked, changing my status from Vietnam to White House Hold.
I had just under two weeks’ leave to accomplish the following: fly home and drive my car from Galesburg to WHCA Headquarters in Georgetown, D.C., where I would get my duty assignment; find a nearby apartment; fly back home to get married in Davenport; and, lastly, drive my wife, her car and U-Haul trailer back to DC.
WHCA could utilize me at the WHCA “Signal” switchboard in the basement of the White House; one of the presidential retreats (Camp David, Maryland; Key Biscayne, Florida; or San Clemente, California); or the LBJ Ranch in Texas since WHCA also provided support for former presidents (Lyndon Johnson was still living).
WHCA HQ advised it was 95% certain I would be assigned to the signal switchboard in the White House basement, but to call back before my flight the next day to confirm.
Submitted by Mike Ebbing
I put one month’s deposit on an apartment in nearby Arlington, Virginia. When I called HQ the next day, just hours before my departing flight, I was told that I would be assigned to Camp David. HQ advised I should be able to get my deposit back on the apartment, delay my flight one day and meet with a realtor that afternoon in the Camp David area. It became quickly apparent that working for the White House did have some unique privileges. Mission accomplished! I flew back to Davenport, got married and began my second cross-country road trip.
I reported to Camp David on Aug. 24, 1970, (the day before my 23rd birthday), beginning a most memorable journey over the next two-plus years that would take me from the small town of Galesburg to all parts of the world, setting up advance communications for the president; and completing hundreds of historic telephone calls from the switchboard at Camp David.
My main assignment was the switchboard at the Camp David Presidential Retreat. Except for the White House Signal and Administration switchboards, and the mini-switchboards at trip locations, this was the only presidential switchboard that was manned on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis.
The Camp David switchboard was located in a “fake” water tower just inside the Camp’s main security gate. All communications activity for the retreat was conducted within this tower, including the switchboard room, which was located underground about 25 feet beneath the base of the tower.
A secret underground tunnel led from the water tower to the “underground” White House, an emergency working facility located below Aspen, the presidential living quarters. The water tower and underground tunnel were demolished several years ago.
The switchboard was the only means of communication at the Naval Support Facility (Camp David). The Navy was responsible for Camp maintenance and operations; the Marines were in charge of security; the Army handled communications; and the Air Force provided helicopter support from the White House to the Camp David.
When President Nixon visited, as he often did, the Camp took on an entirely different complexion. Upon entering the main gate, each vehicle received extreme Marine scrutiny (hood, trunk and glove compartment open; and you were asked to step out of your vehicle during the inspection).
Each switchboard operator generally worked one of three 8-hour shifts. Like all new operators, I started on the midnight shift. After a few months, I was moved to dayside operations where I became the trainer and tutor for newly arriving personnel. I was also named assistant chief switchboard officer, where my main duty was to direct switchboard operations on presidential visits.
When the president traveled, either stateside or worldwide, WHCA support was pulled from various locations to complete trip staffing.
Submitted by Mike Ebbing
This included the retreats at Key Biscayne and San Clemente, which were not fully staffed during non-presidential visits. I was a member of the White House travel team for approximately 15 trips.
A mini-switchboard was installed at trip locations with direct phone lines to the president, his key staff and Secret Service staff as well as direct “long haul” lines back to the White House switchboards in D.C. Early on, I usually worked an 8-hour midnight shift at trip sites (sometimes 12-hour shifts if we had staff shortages).
Later, I became certified to be the lead switchboard operator at trip sites. Our advance team included WHCA members, Secret Service, White House logistics and White House press office staffers. We answered switchboard calls by the city in which we were located (if we were in Chicago, we answered “Chicago Signal”). When Air Force One arrived with the president, we became the “Chicago White House.” We were, indeed, the traveling White House.
Both at Camp David and on presidential trips, the person I dealt with the most was Larry Higby, administrative assistant to H.R. (Bob) Haldeman, Nixon’s chief of staff and arguably the most powerful figure in the Nixon White House. I also had frequent contact with one of Nixon’s military aides (usually someone different on every trip); Ron Walker, a White House staffer who handled all advance preparations for Nixon trips; and Manolo Sanchez, Nixon’s personal steward.
Whenever the President arrived at either Camp David or a trip location, the first White House staffer to call the White House switchboard was usually Larry Higby, who carefully explained to the switchboard operators the stringent protocol for all incoming phone calls for the President. Higby’s instructions were as follows: “Any calls for the president (other than his family or Mr. Haldeman) MUST first be screened through Mr. Haldeman.
AP
Any calls for Mr. Haldeman (other than the President) must first be screened through me (Mr. Higby). Also, for any Haldeman calls (other than the President), the caller MUST remain on the line until the call has been cleared first through me (Mr. Higby).” As you might guess, this could often be a very traumatic experience for a “rookie” White House switchboard operator.
Very early on in my White House service, I learned just how much power and influence Haldeman had in the Nixon White House.
I made several support trips to the retreats at both the Florida White House (Key Biscayne) and the Western White House (San Clemente, California). Most WHCA alumni remember the first trip(s) with the president.
I had just completed my two weeks of intensive training at the signal switchboard in the basement of the White House to become trip certified. Nixon maintained a hectic travel schedule campaigning during the 1970 midterm elections. We were told to plan on multiple (jump) cities before returning to Andrews Air Force Base.
Paris: Funeral services for Charles de Gaulle with most worldwide leaders in attendance. International trips usually had a one-week buffer for advance preparation. With de Gaulle’s sudden passing, our advance team arrived in Paris just four days before the services. I don’t remember sleeping on that trip. Did manage to visit the Eiffel Tower and bought my wife a plastic replica souvenir.
Anchorage, Alaska: Refueling stop for Air Force One on the way home after Nixon’s historic visit to China. We left for Anchorage before Nixon left for China. Spent 10 days in Anchorage. Air Force One stopped for two hours early in the morning to refuel before its journey back to Andrews Air Force Base.
Ottawa, Canada: Summit with Canada’s Prime Minister (also this trip was my “check ride” to become lead switchboard operator on future trips. We later learned that Arthur Bremer, who shot presidential candidate George Wallace a few months later, was actually in Ottawa at the same time stalking Nixon.
Orlando, Florida: Grand opening celebration of Walt Disney World. Our mini-board was operational when we learned that trip was canceled after Secret…
Illinois man traveled the world with Richard Nixon for the White House