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Conversation 008-065

TapeTape 8StartThursday, September 9, 1971 at 11:18 AMEndThursday, September 9, 1971 at 11:23 AMTape start time02:18:55Tape end time02:23:36ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for mobilizing Republican senators to publicly support the President’s recent address to Congress. Colson reports on the coordinated effort to stage supportive statements from lawmakers over several days to counter potential media indifference. The two express frustration over the mainstream press, specifically the Washington Post, for failing to adequately report on Republican critiques of Democratic rivals like Edmund Muskie.

Congressional relationsPublic relationsMedia biasRepublican Party strategyEdmund Muskie
AudioNARA Description

On September 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 11:18 am to 11:23 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-065 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 8-65

Date: September 9, 1971
Time: 11:18 am - 11:23 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

     The President's recent speech to Congress
          -Wire service leads
               -Clark MacGregor
               -Compared to State of the Union address
                      -Public support
               -Republicans senators
                      -Statements
               -MacGregor
               -Difficulty
               -Republicans
               -Media
                      -Robert J. Dole
                            -Edmund S. Muskie
                                 -News summary
                                 -Washington Post

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[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 42s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

yep morning sir i just wondered if you and mcgregor had the boys set to back up the speech yes sir they uh matter of fact they've already they need a bigger effort
We know in advance that we have public support for these people.
We didn't have to have public support for them.
Right, exactly.
Well, the wires are already carrying this warning.
Some more statements by Republican senators replaying some of yesterday's.
We will have, we have I think a total of 15 that we are planning on staging over the next two days.
For three days.
But Clark and I have been...
I know it's not that hard.
Well, that's the difficulty of questioning.
That's what I mean.
Put on somebody who criticized you.
I understand.
But just tell our guys up there that it depends.
Well, they are, Mr. President, and the interesting thing is they all want it.
There's a good feel, really.
We push some, but others are stepping right out by themselves.
The attitudes are very good.
It's just a question of whether the media will carry on.
Bob Bill took Muskie on yesterday.
He got a very good wire service story.
He didn't use it at all.
No, he didn't touch it.
Well, it's difficult to get almost a full page of why I service good stuff.
Kicking my ski gets in your news somewhere just one at a time.
But the post didn't carry it.
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