Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 3 › Conversation 003-132

Nixon phone call with Colson on New York City Police Department

Wednesday, May 26, 1971 · 2:20 PM–2:21 PM ET · White House Telephone ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Conversation003-132 onTape 3 (tape position 03:18:09–03:19:21)StartWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 2:20 PMEndWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 2:21 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-132 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the President’s recent outreach to Edward J. Kiernan following the killing of New York City police officers. Nixon confirms he sent letters of condolence to the victims' families and expressed his formal support for the NYPD to boost morale and public appreciation for law enforcement. Colson agrees to coordinate further publicity for these actions, specifically through the New York Daily News, to capitalize on the potential political impact.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Yes, sir.
I got a hold of Kiernan just now.
Oh, excellent.
I told him that I had written notes to the people in the family.
I extended my sympathy through him to, of course, them.
And I asked him to extend my very best wishes and appreciation to the men on the New York police force, many of whom I've met personally over the years when they have been there to
escort me when I've arrived in both private and public capacities, and that while this was a terrible shock to have this kind of a thing happen, that in one sense it may have served a useful purpose in alerting the whole country to the fact that whoever we are, whatever we are, black or white or anything, that we
owe a great deal to men who serve on the police forces and who risk their lives in order to save our lives.
Excellent.
Worse to that effect.
Excellent.
He said he was grateful.
So you pass it on to whoever you like.
We'll get the daily news.
We'll call him, and I think that'll be very helpful, sir.
Bye.
Bye.
He's a great supporter.

NARA Description

On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 2:20 pm to 2:21 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-132 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-132

Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 2:20 pm - 2:21 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 253-012]

     President's call to Edward J. Kiernan

             -President's condolence letters to families of slain policemen
             -President's support for New York, NY Police Department
             -Effect of killings on public opinion
             -Publicity
                   -New York Daily News

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

  • 003-130 2:17 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Edward J. Kiernan talked on the telephone from 2:17 pm to 2:19 pm.
  • 003-131 2:19 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:19 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 253-011 2:19 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:19 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 253-012 2:20 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:20 pm to 2:21 pm.
  • 003-133 2:21 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.
  • 253-013 2:21 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.
  • 253-014 2:21 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.
  • 253-015 2:21 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 3:12 pm.

All 83 conversations from May 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-132, May 26, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-132 (accessed September 18, 2026).