Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 6 › Conversation 006-059

Nixon phone call with Colson on Pentagon Papers and Supreme Court

Wednesday, June 30, 1971 · 3:08 PM–3:09 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation006-059 on Tape 6 (tape position 01:07:29–01:09:09)StartWednesday, June 30, 1971 at 3:08 PMEndWednesday, June 30, 1971 at 3:09 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 006-059 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Pentagon Papers, expressing frustration with Justice Potter Stewart’s stance and the broader legal outcome. Nixon emphasizes that the administration must continue to pursue the prosecution of Daniel Ellsberg, despite the court's ruling. The President also instructs Colson to follow up on the themes of law and order addressed in his recent speech at the FBI Academy.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Well, it came out just like I predicted, didn't it?

Yes, sir.

Except the interesting thing that we held Harlan lost quiet.

I thought it would be the other way around.

I thought we might get five to four out of it.

I was kind of hoping.

Of course, the principle remains intact, I gather.

I haven't seen the decisions, but I understand from what I've been told that the principle at least of...

classification of classification and of being able to prevent unauthorized disclosures if the evidence supports it yeah so that really what what it says is that the evidence in this instance doesn't support it well uh i just saw it mitchell though and i said now don't don't let

Don't give up on Ellsberg.

And he said, well, I guess they're going to try to make him a martyr.

And I said, God damn it, don't worry about his being a martyr.

I don't think they can get away with that one.

I don't either.

Do you?

No, sir.

I've taken all this into account.

I never expected the court to uphold us on this, their First Amendment.

One thing, of course, about Stuart, that's really disgraceful.

I think the point on that...

A few people get around the very obvious fact that he's so overwhelmed by the Washington-Georgetown social set.

He's just a weak bastard.

Well, he is.

And, of course, he's got a drinking problem.

There's a lot of... Oh, is that right?

Oh, yeah.

There's a...

and can't find him sober most evenings.

Well, anyway, on this, though, I think we're fine.

I made a very tough speech at the FBI Academy about your permissiveness.

Did you hear about that?

I did, and I think it's excellent, Mr. Fauci.

Follow up on it.

I certainly will, sir.

Bye.

NARA Description

On June 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 3:08 pm to 3:09 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-059 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 6-59

Date: June 30, 1971
Time: 3:08 pm - 3:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

     Pentagon Papers
           -Supreme Court decision
           -John M. Harlan
           -Byron R. White
           -Daniel Ellsberg
           -President's conversation with John N. Mitchell
     Potter Stewart
           -Health

     President's speech to Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] academy
           -Content

                                                                           Conversation
                                                                           Conv. No. 6-59
                                                                                        No.
                                                                                          (cont.)
                                                                                            6-60

Date: June 30, 1971
Time: 5:14 pm - 5:15 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods; this recording begins at an unknown time while
the conversation is in progress.

[See Conversation No. 533-001]

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 05/08/2023.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[006-060-w001]
[Duration: 11s]

     Rose Mary Woods’ schedule
          -Meeting with Louis C. Wyman and unknown person
          -Roman Nolan

******************************************************************************

     The President's call to Cynthia Frink
          -New Hampshire
          -Louis C. Wyman

Also recorded on June 30, 1971

006-052 2:36 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:36 pm and 2:40 pm.
006-053 2:40 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John S. Davies talked on the telephone from 2:40 pm to 2:42 pm.
006-054 2:43 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Cynthia Frink talked on the telephone from 2:43 pm to 2:44 pm.
006-055 2:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:44 pm and 2:52 pm.
006-056 2:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:44 pm and 2:52 pm.
006-057 2:52 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John S. Davies talked on the telephone from 2:52 pm to 2:53 pm.
006-058 2:53 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:53 pm and 3:08 pm.
532-024 3:08 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 3:08 pm.

All 66 conversations from June 30, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 006-059, June 30, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-059 (accessed October 5, 2026).