Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 15 › Conversation 015-054

Nixon phone call with Colson on Media strategy and Public relations

Friday, November 19, 1971 · 7:43 PM–7:44 PM ET · White House Telephone ·35 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Conversation015-054 onTape 15 (tape position 01:34:13–01:34:49)StartFriday, November 19, 1971 at 7:43 PMEndFriday, November 19, 1971 at 7:44 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 015-054 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson coordinate a strategic media initiative, discussing the timing of a planned announcement or presentation to coincide with the conclusion of evening news broadcasts. Nixon expresses strong approval of Colson's proposed tactical approach, confirming that the White House has an established system in place to execute the plan. The brief call serves to finalize the operational logistics for this specific public relations effort.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Yes sir.
I thought of one thing that might be uh... Alright.
I think that's a damn good idea.
Show it coming as they would right after the evening news.
Oh no, we have a system and we'll get it going.
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On November 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:43 pm to 7:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-054 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 15-54

Date: November 19, 1971
Time: 7:43 pm - 7:44 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

     News
         -Colson's plan

Also recorded on November 20, 1971

  • 015-053 7:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:40 pm and 7:43 pm.
  • 015-055 8:09 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 8:37 am.
  • 621-010 8:09 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 8:37 am.
  • 621-011 8:09 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 8:37 am.
  • 621-012 8:09 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 8:37 am.
  • 621-013 8:09 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 8:37 am.
  • 621-014 8:09 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 8:37 am.
  • 015-056 8:37 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at 8:37 am.

All 41 conversations from November 20, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 015-054, November 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-054 (accessed September 18, 2026).