President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the investigation into Arthur Bremer, the assailant who shot George Wallace, with a particular focus on his potential political affiliations and motives. They assess the efficacy of FBI Director L. Patrick Gray’s investigation and strategize on how to manage public perception regarding the shooter's ideological leanings and the broader implications for gun control. Additionally, the pair reviews Wallace’s medical prognosis and evaluates the domestic political climate concerning the President's Vietnam policies and the upcoming Moscow summit.
On May 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 11:12 pm to 11:41 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-134 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 24-134
Date: May 15, 1972
Time: 11:12 pm - 11:41 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Charles W. Colson.
Attack on George C. Wallace
-Calls to Dr. William M. Lukash and John D. Ehrlichman
-Arthur H. Bremer
-Press stories
-Political leanings
-Motives
-Press interviews with landlord
-Literature in apartment
-Wallace
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] investigation
-L. Patrick Gray, III
-Interviews
-Mental state
-Lawyer
-Gray
-Custody
-Baltimore
-Plans for autobiography
-Apartment search
-Writings
-Mental condition
-Political affiliations
-George S. McGovern
-Publicity
-Brother
-Attitude toward Wallace
-Gray
-Political affiliations
-Cover
-Publicity
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Wallace's condition
-Operation
-Recovery
-Lukash's report
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 37s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
-Lukash's prognosis
-Extent of injury
-Paralysis
-Investigation
-FBI
-Gray's control
-Information
-Release
-Political leanings
-Press reports
-Clawson
-Public perceptions
-Bremer
-Background
-Political leanings
-The President’s view
-Background
-Gray's investigation
-Money sources
-Schooling
-Travels
-Money sources
-Literature
-John F. Kennedy assassination
-Media coverage
-Motive of Lee Harvey Oswald
-Bremer
-Media coverage
-Investigation
-Gray's direction
-The President’s view
-Wallace's condition
-Operation
-Completion
-Lukash's report
-Medical bulletins
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 39s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
Candidate protection
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Shirley Chisholm
-The President's orders
-Publicity
-Lukash
-Chisholm
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
*****************************************************************
Assault on Wallace
-Forthcoming press coverage
-Bremer
-United Press International [UPI] report
-Political leanings
-Gray
-Possible motive
-Left wing McGovern and Hubert H. Humphrey supporters
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
*****************************************************************
Assault on Wallace
-Weapon
-.38 caliber
-Power
-Impact
-.45 caliber
-Handgun
-Saturday night special
-Purchase
-Gun control
-Issue
-Publicity
-Clawson
-National Rifle Association [NRA]
-Bremer
-Accomplices
-Mental condition
-Public reaction
-Bremer
-Motive
-Political affiliation
-Young Democrats
-Publicity
-Gray
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Public response
-Leonard Woodcock's television appearance on Face the Nation
-Statements
-Questions
-Louis P. Harris's statements on Meet the Press
-Robert J. Dole
-Statement
-Publicity
-Critics
-Stance
-Soviet summit
-Polls
-New York Times
-Polls
-Albert E. Sindlinger results
-Support for the President
Wallace
-Sindlinger poll
-Press coverage
-Recovery
-The President's trip to Moscow
-Condition
-Paralysis possibility
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 3m 6s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Assault on Wallace
-Investigation
-GrayNo transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.