Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 11 › Conversation 011-020

Nixon phone call with Colson on Kennedy Center and Military bands

Thursday, October 7, 1971 · 9:52 PM–9:53 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation011-020 on Tape 11 (tape position 00:31:39–00:32:44)StartThursday, October 7, 1971 at 9:52 PMEndThursday, October 7, 1971 at 9:53 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 011-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss a military band concert being held at the Kennedy Center, prompted by conflicting reports regarding the event's nature and media coverage from the Washington Post. Nixon directs Colson to verify the event's dress code and private status, expressing potential interest in attending the end of the performance if appropriate. Colson agrees to investigate the details immediately and report back to the President.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yes, sir, Mr. President.
You say the military bands are playing?
Yes, I should learn never to believe the Washington Post.
The Post this morning said it was the bands of Mexico City, but what it is, we've just found out by calling around, is a private concert of the military bands, dedicating the county center concert hall, I don't know, it was dedicating a tribute to John Philip Sousa.
And it was a private invitation that was there that started at 8.30, I don't know.
What part of it is that?
I think the concert hall, Mr. President, although none of the damn telephones answer over there, so I haven't been able to find out exactly.
It's a private military affair, apparently.
Call over there, get a hold of them, and see if the black tire or not will call me back for you.
Yes, sir.
Or you know it is?
I don't know whether it is, but I'll call right over and try to find out immediately.
If it is, I may go over for the last time.
All right, sir.
I'll check right now.
Call you back.

NARA Description

On October 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:52 pm to 9:53 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 011-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 011-020

 Date: October 7, 1971
 Time: 9:52 pm - 9:53 pm
 Location: White House Telephone

 The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

        Kennedy Center concert
            -Military bands
                  -Washington Post
                  -John Philip Sousa
                       -Attire
                       -The President’s schedule

Also recorded on October 8, 1971

  • 011-010 8:58 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:58 pm.
  • 011-014 9:03 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:03 pm to 9:09 pm.
  • 011-015 9:09 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 9:09 pm to 9:11 pm.
  • 011-016 9:17 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:17 pm to 9:20 pm.
  • 011-017 9:20 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:20 pm and 9:40 pm.
  • 011-018 9:40 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 9:40 pm to 9:44 pm.
  • 011-019 9:44 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:44 pm and 9:52 pm.
  • 011-021 9:53 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:53 pm and 11:35 pm.

All 28 conversations from October 8, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 011-020, October 8, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/011-020 (accessed October 12, 2026).