The operator selects a special trunk, class marked for this service, and dials either the last 5 digits of the phone number, or a special ttc code like 052, and followed by the whole 7 digit number.

After that, the operator hears scrambled conversation on the line. The parties talking hear nothing, not even a click. Next, the operator "Flashes forward" by causing the equipment to send a burst of 2600 Hz, which makes a 3 way connection, and places a beep tone on the line so that both parties originally on the line can hear the initial click (flash, in this case), followed by a high pitched beep. At this point, the parties can hear you, and you can hear them. Usually, the operator answers.

Our first problem was to extract what exchange this number terminated in, because AutoVerify wouldn't know about 800 numbers. Then, all 800 numbers had a one-to-one relation between prefix and area code. For instance, 800-424 ----> 202-xxx, where xxx was the 3 digit exchange which was determined by the last 4 digits. In this case, 800-424-9337 mapped to 202-227-9337. The 227 (which could be wrong) was a special White house prefix used for faxes, telex's and in this case, the CIA Crisis line.

Next we got into the class marked trunk (Which had a different sounding chirp, when seized). and MF'ed KP-054-227-9337-ST into this special class marked trunk. Immediately we heard the connection tone and put it up on the speaker so we would know when a call came in.

Several hours later, a call did come in, and it did appear to have CIA related talk, and a code name of Olympus was used to summon the President. I had been downstairs that time, hanging out with friends when I learned what was going on. I rush upstairs just in time to hear the tail end of the conversation as I entered the room.

We had the code word that would summon Nixon to the phone. Almost immediately, another person was starting the process of dialing the number. I stopped them just in time and recommended that they stack at least 4 tandems before looping the call to the White house.

Sure enough, the man at the other end said "9337", my other friend said "Olympus please!", the man at the other end said "One moment sir!"... About a minute later, a man that sounded remarkably like Nixon said "What's going on?". My friend said "We have a crisis here in Los Angeles!", Nixon said "What's the nature of the crisis?",

My friend said in a serious tone of voice "We're out of toilet paper sir!". Nixon said "WHO IS THIS?" My friend then hung up. Never did learn what happened to that tape, but I think this was one of the funniest pranks, and I don't think that Woz would even come close to this one. I think he was jealous for a long time.

To the best of my recollection, this was about 4 months before Nixon resigned because of the Watergate crisis.