Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 8 › Conversation 008-086
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Charles W. Colson
Sunday, September 12, 1971 · 3:44 PM–3:51 PM ET · White House Telephone · 13 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon initiates a request through the White House operator to contact special counsel Charles W. Colson. The President provides specific instructions to avoid interrupting Colson if he is attending a social event, while authorizing the use of a pager if he is at home. This brief exchange serves as the logistical coordination required to establish urgent communication with a key staff member.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:44 pm and 3:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-086 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 8-86
Date: September 12, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:44 pm and 3:51 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
[See Conversation No. 278-21]
Request for call to Charles W. ColsonAlso recorded on September 12, 1971
- 278-021 3:44 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 3:44 pm and 3:51 pm.
- 008-087 3:51 PM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 3:51 pm to 4:28 pm.
- 278-022 3:51 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:51 pm to 4:28 pm.
- 008-088 4:31 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:31 pm.
- 008-089 4:31 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:31 pm.
- 278-023 4:31 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:31 pm.
- 278-024 4:31 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 4:31 pm.
- 278-025 4:31 PM · 5 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 4:31 pm and 4:37 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 008-086, September 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/008-086 (accessed October 9, 2026).