Nixon White House TapesTape 34 › Conversation 034-108

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Charles W. Colson

Sunday, December 17, 1972 · 12:02 AM–9:52 AM ET · White House Telephone · 17 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation034-108 on Tape 34StartSunday, December 17, 1972 at 12:02 AMEndSunday, December 17, 1972 at 9:52 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 034-108 ↗

President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Special Counsel Charles W. Colson. This brief communication served as a formal request to initiate a direct line to Colson. No further substantive discussion or decision-making was recorded during this brief exchange.

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, sir.
Would you try Mr. Colson, please?
Yes, surely.

On December 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:02 am and 9:52 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 034-108 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 34-108

Date: December 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:02 am and 9:52 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

       Request for a call to Charles W. Colson
  • 034-105 12:02 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 12:02 am.
  • 034-106 12:02 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:02 am and 9:52 am.
  • 034-107 12:02 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:02 am and 9:52 am.
  • 034-109 9:52 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:52 am to 9:55 am.
  • 034-153 9:55 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 9:56 am.
  • 034-110 9:56 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:56 am to 10:02 am.
  • 034-111 10:02 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:02 am and 10:03 am.
  • 034-112 10:03 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone from 10:03 am to 10:09 am.

Conversation 034-108, December 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/034-108 (accessed September 20, 2026).