Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 6 › Conversation 006-111
Nixon phone call with Colson on unemployment statistics and polygraph
Friday, July 2, 1971 · 7:05 PM–7:08 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss their extreme dissatisfaction with the handling of recent unemployment figures and the subsequent negative media coverage. Nixon demands accountability for the problematic press releases, specifically ordering that officials Geoffrey H. Moore and Harold Goldstein be subjected to polygraph tests. He makes it clear that if these individuals are found responsible for the unfavorable framing of the economic data, they must be terminated immediately.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On July 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:05 pm to 7:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-111 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 6-111
Date: July 2, 1971
Time: 7:05 pm - 7:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Charles W. Colson.
Progress report on release of unemployment figures
-Colson's call to George P. Shultz and H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Statistical "fluke" statement
-President's conversation with James D. Hodgson
-Shultz
-Media coverage
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 05/01/2023. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[006-111-w001]
[Duration: 5s]
Progress report on release of unemployment figures
-Harold Goldstein
-George P. Shultz
******************************************************************************
Progress report on release of unemployment figures
-Harold Goldstein
-Polygraph test
-Possible firing
-Shultz's views
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 05/01/2023. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[006-111-w002]
[Duration: 36s]
Progress report on release of unemployment figures
Geoffrey H. Moore
-Arthur F. Burns
-Firing
-July 3, 1971
-Arthur F. Burns
-Replacement
******************************************************************************
The President’s previous meeting
-Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy, June 28
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 05/01/2023. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[006-111-w003]
[Duration: 6s]
Progress report on release of unemployment figures
-Geoffrey H. Moore and Harold Goldstein
-President’s request for termination on July 3, 1971
******************************************************************************
The President’s scheduleAlso recorded on July 2, 1971
- 260-024 6:32 PM · 2 min — 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 6:32 pm and 6:36 pm.
- 260-025 6:35 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Rose Mary Woods, and John K. Andrews, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:35 pm to 6:47 pm.
- 006-109 6:36 PM · 52 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. talked on the telephone from 6:36 pm to 6:37 pm.
- 006-110 6:50 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:50 pm and 7:05 pm.
- 006-112 7:08 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:08 pm and 7:13 pm.
- 006-113 7:13 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:13 pm to 7:14 pm.
- 006-199 7:15 PM · 6 sec — Unknown person(s) and the White House operator talked on the telephone on an unknown date, sometime between 7:15 pm on July 2, 1971 and 7:20 am on July 3, 1971.
- 006-200 7:15 PM · 2 sec — Unknown person(s) and the White House operator talked on the telephone on an unknown date, sometime between 7:15 pm on July 2, 1971 and 7:20 am on July 3, 1971.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 006-111, July 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-111 (accessed October 12, 2026).