Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 6 › Conversation 006-113

Nixon phone call with Colson on Harold Goldstein and unemployment figures

Friday, July 2, 1971 · 7:13 PM–7:14 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation006-113 on Tape 6 (tape position 02:21:18–02:23:54)StartFriday, July 2, 1971 at 7:13 PMEndFriday, July 2, 1971 at 7:14 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 006-113 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417189117 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs Charles Colson to initiate polygraph examinations for Department of Labor officials, specifically targeting Harold Goldstein, regarding unauthorized comments labeling recent unemployment figures a "statistical fluke." Nixon expresses extreme frustration with the perceived lack of resolve from George Shultz and James Hodgson in addressing internal leaks, viewing the incident as a test of his administration's authority. He mandates that any employee refusing the test or failing to pass it must be terminated immediately to ensure control over the bureaucracy.

Audio

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NARA Description

On July 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:13 pm to 7:14 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-113 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 6-113

Date: July 2, 1971
Time: 7:13 pm - 7:14 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures

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[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 05/01/2023. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]

[006-113-w001]
[Duration: 9s]

     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures
           -Harold Goldstein
                  -July 3, 1971
                        -Interrogation

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     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures
           -Polygraph examination
           -Possible replacement
           -George P. Shultz
           -James D. Hodgson
           -Conversation with the President

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[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 05/01/2023. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[006-113-w002]
[Duration: 4s]

     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures
           -Harold Goldstein
                  -Polygraph examination
Show the rest of the log (27 more lines)
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     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures
           -Harvey Goldstein
                  -Polygraph test
                  -Possible transfer
           -President's conversation with Shultz
           -Administration's response
           -John B. Connally
           -Meeting with Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy, June 28

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[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 05/01/2023. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[006-113-w003]
[Duration: 3s]

     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures
           -Harold Goldstein
                  -Polygraph examination

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

     Statistical "fluke" statement on unemployment figures
           -Polygraph examinations

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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Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

The most important thing is, and this is a must, I will not take no for an answer on this.
And then he's to be given a polygraph.
Now, if he refuses to take the polygraph, he's out.
If he takes it and it lies, he's out.
Is that clear?
Yes.
Now, can't we do something?
I'm not going to take no for an answer on this.
I know Schultz was trying to wiggle off the hook, and so was Hodgson when I talked to him, but I'm not going to take no for an answer on this.
And I want to raise hell about this, John.
Well, we have to to get these guys along.
We can't.
How the hell can you do it otherwise?
I mean, these guys, what the Christ's the matter with Schultz?
Has he got any guts?
No, he wants to be sure he has all the facts.
All right, I got the facts.
I heard what they said.
I read the release.
The same with Hodgson.
I talked to Hodgson myself.
He knows our ideas.
There's the thing.
Don't you agree?
We have no reason not to, haven't we?
He was ordered not to do this.
If he did it, he could say, no, were you willing to take a polygraph?
He says, no, you're out.
He says, yes, fine, take it.
Fair enough?
Yes, sir.
You see anything wrong with that?
No, I don't.
I don't.
I think it's a civil service employee.
I understand that.
It's never like we can translate it.
I'm not going to have it anymore.
He is an all-out left-wing son of a bitch who's again against us for 20 years.
George knows this.
I've told George this.
George doesn't believe it.
But it is true.
I believe... See, Chuck, I gave this order two days ago.
And on this test, we screw it up.
What do you think it's going to do to John Connolly's morale?
See my point?
What's going to be the others that are going to give us the business?
We have got to.
Don't you agree?
We've got to be tough on this one.
Mr. President, I told you the best thing you've done was the Monday meeting with the economists and the candidates.
That was talk.
These people have got to know who's running the government.
That's right.
Now, we're running the government now.
On everybody who had the information, they're going to take polygraphs tomorrow.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
And let them leak it.
I don't care.
I don't tell George that it's suppression.
It's bullshit.
I want to know who did this.
Now, God damn it, I want to find out.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
Okay, let's go.

Also 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.
  • 006-111 7:05 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:05 pm to 7:08 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.
  • 006-199 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.

All 80 conversations from July 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 006-113, July 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417189117). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/006-113 (accessed November 1, 2026).