Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 19 › Conversation 019-025

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Charles W. Colson and Cabinet relations

Wednesday, January 19, 1972 · 7:22 PM–7:23 PM ET · White House Telephone · 40 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation019-025 on Tape 19StartWednesday, January 19, 1972 at 7:22 PMEndWednesday, January 19, 1972 at 7:23 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 019-025 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417192369 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed H. R. Haldeman to ensure Charles W. Colson was included on the guest list for an upcoming White House dinner with Cabinet officers. Nixon emphasized that Colson’s presence was essential to signal his high-level authority and influence to the administration's leadership. Haldeman acknowledged the directive, confirming that Colson would be added to the event if he was not already scheduled to attend.

Audio

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NARA Description

On January 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 7:22 pm to 7:23 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 19-25

Date: January 19, 1972
Time: 7:22 pm - 7:23 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     Charles W. Colson's schedule
          -White House dinner, January 20, 1972

                -Cabinet officers
                -Herbert G. Klein

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I don't know whether I raised this with you, but I think it's important that Colson be at that dinner tomorrow night.
Mainly because he has to ask these cabinet officers to do things, and I want them to be sure that they know he's in the top echelon.
We put him on for that reason.
Because otherwise, you know, you have Klein there and the rest of me.
And if he's not there, they won't think he's in the group.
Okay?
If he isn't, put him on.
Okay?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Fine.
Bye.

Also recorded on January 19, 1972

  • 019-017 4:46 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:46 pm to 4:49 pm.
  • 019-018 5:06 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:17 pm.
  • 019-019 5:17 PM · 44 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone from 5:17 pm to 5:18 pm.
  • 019-020 6:30 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:30 pm and 7:02 pm.
  • 019-021 7:02 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Fina Sanchez talked on the telephone from 7:02 pm to 7:03 pm.
  • 019-022 7:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:14 pm.
  • 019-023 7:14 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:14 pm.
  • 019-024 7:14 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:14 pm and 7:22 pm.

All 34 conversations from January 19, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 019-025, January 19, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417192369). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/019-025 (accessed October 29, 2026).