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Conversation 001-066

TapeTape 1StartSunday, April 11, 1971 at 9:19 PMEndSunday, April 11, 1971 at 9:21 PMTape start time02:16:22Tape end time02:18:35ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the status of a forthcoming Louis Harris poll evaluating the public response to the President's April 7th speech. Colson confirms that he is in contact with Harris to monitor the polling data and ensure the President’s team remains informed. The two men agree that maintaining this collaborative relationship with Harris and sharing internal data helps manage the narrative and keep the polling process favorable to the administration.

Louis HarrisPublic opinion pollsWhite House communicationsMedia relationsPolitical strategy
AudioNARA Description

On April 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:19 pm to 9:21 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-066 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 1-66

Date: April 11, 1971
Time: 9:19 pm - 9:21 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

     Louis Harris
          -Forthcoming poll regarding April 7, 1971, speech
          -Television show in Detroit

     Opinion Research Corporation [ORC] poll
          -Colson

     Harris poll
          -Forthcoming results
          -Harris’ relations with Colson
          -Results
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello?
Mr. Colson, sir.
Chuck?
Yes, sir.
Oh, I forgot to ask you.
What did you hear from your friend Harris?
He started his poll this week, or he was supposed to have.
I tried to reach him Friday in Detroit.
I thought he was going to pull right after the broadcast.
He told me he was going to start Thursday, and then he...
I assume he did, although I wasn't able to reach him on Friday yet.
He probably stretches it out over three, four days, I suppose.
Normally it takes about four days.
Normally he would be finished tonight.
Oh, I see.
Well, then he won't have anything this week, then probably until next.
No, he would, his raw data, Mr. President, he would have in on Thursday of this coming week.
Yeah.
And I, as I say, I tried to call on Friday to see if he started, but I wasn't able to reach him.
He was doing a TV show out in Detroit.
Uh-huh.
But I will get him in the morning.
Yeah.
I'm sure he started.
He's being extremely cooperative.
Well, you can be sure he knows what we pulled, you know.
Well, the ORC thing, I think some of it was put out today, wasn't it?
It ran on the wires today, yes, sir.
Yeah, that was the one we took just before the broadcast.
Right.
Right.
But I'll see that he has that, and I'm sure Lou started.
Lou has risen to the bait, and...
Well, I don't know the sum of peace of what happens to him.
No, but what he told me is he'd put his men in the field starting Thursday.
Yeah.
Which normally he'd be through the night of tomorrow.
Yeah, good.
We'll have some more data on Thursday.
Right, right, right.
But I'll let you know.
Just so he knows that we are doing the same thing.
Oh, yes.
Yeah.
Helps keep him honest a little bit.
Yeah, yeah.
And as I say, he's been helpful.
He's given me a lot of...
A lot of his raw data that he never gave out before.
Good.
Good.
Well, and we're ready to cooperate with him, too.
Sure.
He knows that.
Right.
Right.
Well, I'll check with him in the morning.
Wow.
Okay.
Let you know what the... Sure.
If he's pulling and we'll get his results.
Fine.
Fine.
Okay.
Fine.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
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