President Nixon met with Charles W. Colson to refine the administration's political strategy regarding the 1972 presidential campaign and Vietnam War negotiations. They discussed intensifying attacks on George McGovern's policy inconsistencies and campaign ethics, while planning the release of a financial analysis highlighting the costs of McGovern’s proposed policies. Additionally, the President reviewed upcoming public relations efforts, including messaging for a Veterans Day event and the use of audio recordings to solidify public support for his administration's Vietnam policy.
On October 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:57 pm to 1:24 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 373-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 373-1
Date: October 24, 1972
Time: 12:57 pm - 1:24 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson and Manolo Sanchez.
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 1:24 pm.
Veterans
-Bill signing ceremony, October 24, 1972
-The President's commitment to peace and honor
-The American Legion's auxiliary publication
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Veterans benefits bill
-Education
Foreign affairs
Campaign issues
-The President’s surrogates
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Chicago
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s speech, October 23, 1972
-Draft dodgers, amnesty
-Military spending cuts
-World War II
-George S. McGovern's vacillation
-McGovern’s campaign practices
-1968
-Response to McGovern's forthcoming speech about
morality
-Questions
-Demonstrations
An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time after 12:57 pm.
-Demonstrations
(rev. Nov-03)
-Double standard
-Charges against republican party
-McGovern supporters
-Public opinion
-Public opinion
-Watergate
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 32s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
Campaign issues
-McGovern’s proposals
-Colson’s recent memorandum to surrogates
-Vietnam War
-US surrender
-Abandonment of prisoners of war [POWs]
-Welfare
-Busing
-Tax increases
-Confidence issue
-Forthcoming release of financial analysis
-Total cost of proposals
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Defense cuts
-Wilbur H. Mills’s statement
-Clairborne Pell
-New York Times
-Rhode Island
-John J. Rhodes
-Agnew's statement
-Utica, New York
-Griffith’s Air Force Base
(rev. Nov-03)
-Agnew’s schedule
-Texas
-New York
-Arkansas
-Mills
-McGovern’s proposals
-Morality issue
-Effectiveness
-Watergate
-Awareness by Wisconsin farmers
-News summary
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 6m 1s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
Vietnam War
-Timing of possible settlement
-1972 Election
-Public relations
-McGovern, R. Sargent Shriver's reaction to peace
Prospects
-McGovern’s previous statement
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-1972 peace plan compared with 1969 peace plan
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 9s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
(rev. Nov-03)
*****************************************************************
Campaign practices
-Demonstrators
-The President’s view
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 24s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Veterans Day message, October 25, 1972
-Wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery
-News coverage
-Today show
-Radio
-Donald E. Johnson
-Frank L. Rizzo
-The President’s words
-Amnesty
-Public reaction to Vietnam War, McGovern
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 33s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
(rev. Nov-03)
*****************************************************************
Colson left at 1:24 pm.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.