President Nixon held consultations with Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, Charles Colson, and Alexander Haig to discuss political strategy and upcoming events. Nixon praised Rizzo’s recent public performance and sought his counsel regarding the political risks of involving Frank Sinatra in an upcoming state event for the Italian Prime Minister. The participants evaluated the potential fallout regarding Sinatra’s rumored associations and considered the optics of his inclusion in a high-profile Kennedy Center performance.
On July 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Frank L. Rizzo, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:00 pm to 2:25 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 348-006 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 348-6 Date: July 19, 1972 Time: 2:00 pm - 2:25 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President met with Charles W. Colson. ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 2m 13s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ***************************************************************** The President talked with Frank L. Rizzo between 2:04 pm and 2:09 pm. [Conversation No. 348-6A] [See Conversation No. 27-6] [End of telephone conversation] (rev. Oct-06) ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 14s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ***************************************************************** Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the President between 2:10 pm and 2:12 pm. [Conversation No. 348-6B] [See Conversation No. 27-7] [End of telephone conversation] ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 1m 30s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ***************************************************************** The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time before 2:14 pm. [Conversation No. 348-6C] [See Conversation No. 27-8] [End of telephone conversation] Francis A. (“Frank”) Sinatra -The President's forthcoming call (rev. Oct-06) -Appearance before congressional committee -Performance -Press -Rizzo's opinion -John A. Volpe An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 2:12 pm. Dress The unknown woman left at an unknown time before 2:14 pm. Colson's wife Sinatra -Volpe's opinion ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 2m 10s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ***************************************************************** The White House operator talked with the President at 2:14 pm. [Conversation No. 348-6D] [See Conversation No. 27-9] [End of telephone conversation] (rev. Oct-06) The President's forthcoming call to Sinatra -Sinatra's testimony before congressional committee -Sinatra’s location -Monte Carlo -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 5m 13s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ***************************************************************** [Thomas] Hale Boggs -Partisanship -Drinking -Intelligence ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 1m 27s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 ***************************************************************** Colson left at 2:25 pm. (rev. Oct-06)
This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.