Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-083

Nixon phone call with Colson on China initiative and Edward W. Brooke

Wednesday, April 14, 1971 · 7:41 PM–7:42 PM ET · White House Telephone · 33 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation001-083 on Tape 1 (tape position 02:53:25–02:54:00)StartWednesday, April 14, 1971 at 7:41 PMEndWednesday, April 14, 1971 at 7:42 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 001-083 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs Charles W. Colson to contact Senator Edward W. Brooke to secure public support for the administration's initiative toward the People's Republic of China. Nixon instructs Colson to encourage Brooke to deliver a speech on the Senate floor praising the policy as a long-term strategic vision for future generations. Colson confirms his intention to execute this request, leveraging background information from journalist Howard K. Smith to bolster the argument.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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When you're, hello?
Yes, sir.
When you're talking to Brooke, why don't you ask him to get up on the Senate floor tomorrow and praise the president for his initiative on the China thing.
And then getting the Howard Smith background, see, Smith has got it all, starting with the article.
This is an 18-month plan.
This is thinking of the future of the little Kevin Taylors, you know, and the rest.
And that this is something where he can really say, we like this initiative.
You see what I mean?
Mm-hmm.
Tell him to do that.
I think he'd be one that would be very likely to.
Good.
Okay.
I'll do it, sir.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On April 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:41 pm to 7:42 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-083 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 1-83

Date: April 14, 1971
Time: 7:41 pm - 7:42 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

     Colson's possible conversation with Edward W. Brooke
          -President's People's Republic of China initiative
                -Howard K. Smith
                -Kevin Taylor

Also recorded on April 15, 1971

  • 001-081 7:27 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone from 7:27 pm to 7:40 pm.
  • 001-082 7:40 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 7:40 pm to 7:41 pm.
  • 001-084 7:42 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:42 pm and 7:45 pm.
  • 001-085 7:45 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone from 7:45 pm to 7:54 pm.
  • 001-086 7:54 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 7:54 pm to 7:55 pm.
  • 001-087 7:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter M. Flanigan talked on the telephone from 7:55 pm to 7:57 pm.
  • 001-088 7:58 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:58 pm.
  • 001-089 7:58 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 7:58 pm to 8:03 pm.

All 71 conversations from April 15, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 001-083, April 15, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-083 (accessed October 12, 2026).