Conversation: 157-004
Prev: 157-003 Next: 157-005Start Date: 5-Dec-1972 10:05 PM
End Date: 5-Dec-1972 10:34 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.;Recording Device: Camp David Study Table
NARA Description:
On December 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:05 pm to 10:34 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 157-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 157-4 Date: December 5, 1972 Time: 10:05 pm and 10:34 pm Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 233-6] ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08) Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d) Colson’s location -1972 election The President’s schedule -Reception for Californians -Robert H. Finch 1972 election -California -Fundraising -Predictions -Youth -George S. McGovern -Organization -Results -Compared to 1964 election -Statistics -John B. Connally -Secretaries of State -Vote count tampering -Final reports -Arkansas -Missouri -New Jersey -Washington -West Virginia -Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson’s victory [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** Vietnam negotiations -Possible breakdown -The President’s possible television [TV] appearance -[Henry A. Kissinger’s] cable -The President’s conversation with Colson -Colson’s view -1920s -Normalcy -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08) Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d) -1972 election -Public explanation -Definitions of “administrative mechanisms” [re. National Committee of National Reconciliation and Concord] [NCNRC] -North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam -Effect -Timing -Colson’s view -The President’s previous TV appearances -Presidential action -November 3, 1969 speech -Demonstrators -Silent Majority -Explanation of impasse -Enemy trickery -Colson’s view -Colson’s negotiating experience -Impasse -Kissinger’s position -Compared to Kissinger’s return from the Soviet Union -US-Soviet summit -US bombing of North Vietnam -Public opinion -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Ronald L. Ziegler -19th and 20th parallel -Hanoi, Haiphong -Possible North Vietnamese bluff -Colson’s negotiating experience -Surface to air missiles [SAMs] -Kissinger’s view -Presidential action -Effect -Supporters -Opposition -Foreign policy -North Vietnam -Public opinion -North Vietnam’s view -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08) Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d) -Congressional action -Cut off of aid -George S. McGovernites -The President’s conversations with John B. Connally -1972 election -Congressional “doves” -Strength -Draft -Casualties -1972 election -Peace with honor -Compared to US withdrawal -US bombing of North Vietnam for prisoners of war [POWs] -Possible interpretation -US withdrawal -Colson’s view -Haldeman’s reading of second cable -1972 election -1972 election -Public support for the President -Press relations -Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” comment [in October 26, 1972 press conference] -POWs -Kissinger’s press and media relations -Marvin L. Kalb -Kissinger’s morale -The President, Haldeman, Colson, Ziegler -Kissinger’s possible statement -Forthcoming talks -Timing -Public opinion -Public opinion -Colson’s conversations -Frank E. Fitzsimmons -Louis P. Harris -Stock market -Retail sales -Christmas -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08) Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d) -1972 election -1972 campaign -McGovern -Second term -Economy -The President’s possible TV speech -Effect -Compared to [Kissinger’s possible statement] -North Vietnamese intractability -Settlement agreement -Timing -Possible breakdown -Kissinger’s press and media relations -“Peace is at hand” -Settlement agreement -Settlement agreement -Public opinion -Ziegler’s view -Daniel Yankelovich’s view -Settlement agreement -The President’s November 2, 1972 speech, “Look to the Future” -The President’s confidence -1972 election -Press relations -Kissinger -Relations with the President -October 8, 1972 agreement -Authority -Credibility -The President’s speech, “Look to the Future” -“Peace is at hand” -Tone -Possible breakdown -The President’s possible TV speech -October 8, 1972 agreement -South Vietnam’s rejection -Consultation -Kissinger’s trip to Paris -North Vietnam’s view -Twelve changes -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08) Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d) -Labor negotiations -Timing -Kissinger’s return from Paris -Kissinger’s possible statement -North Vietnam’s reaction -US public opinion -North Vietnam’s willingness to settle -US bombing -Incentive -Congressional action -Cut off of aid -1972 election -Status of war -US presence in South Vietnam -Casualties -Air war -Draft -Press relations -Kissinger -Possible leak -Saigon, Washington, DC -POWs -Christmas -1972 elections -Twelve changes -Process -Kissinger’s cables -Tone -Colson’s view -Labor negotiations -North Vietnam’s April 1972 offensive -US reaction -Absence of US statement -US bombing -Kissinger’s second cable -Haldeman’s reading -Colson’s view -Logic -Emotion -The President’s role -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08) Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d) -Kalb -Public opinion -Samuel Lubell’s -Antiwar movement -November demonstation -Size -Intellectuals -The President’s possible TV speech -Effect -Supporters -Opponents -US bombing -Perceived weakness in President’s position -Public opinion -Haldeman’s, Ziegler’s, and Colson’s view -Kissinger’s cable -Connally’s view -Haldeman -Colson’s view -Timing -Public opinion -Press relations -Washington, DC -Reports, troop withdrawals, press conferences -Public opinion -Richard M. Scammon’s view -Compared to Harris’s view -1972 election -Social issue -The President’s view -Scammon’s letter to union -The President’s leadership -Happiness, contentedness -Colson’s view -Kissinger’s return from Paris -Press relations -Washington, DC -POWs -Wives -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Apr.-08)