Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-039

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Charles W. Colson

Wednesday, February 2, 1972 · 8:09 PM ET · White House Telephone · 11 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation020-039 on Tape 20 (tape position 01:21:05–01:21:17)StartWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 8:09 PMEndWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 8:09 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-039 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to determine the current status and availability of Charles W. Colson. The President decided against immediate contact and directed the operator to postpone the attempt to reach Colson until the following day. No substantive policy matters were addressed during this brief administrative exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh?
No, no, no, no.
No problem.
Just leave it right there.
Call him tomorrow.

NARA Description

On February 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:09 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-039 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-39

Date: February 2, 1972
Time: 8:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

     Status of call to Charles W. Colson
          -Colson’s schedule

Also recorded on February 3, 1972

  • 020-037 7:43 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:43 pm to 7:52 pm.
  • 020-041 8:00 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 8:00 pm to 8:09 pm.
  • 020-038 8:09 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:09 pm.
  • 020-040 8:09 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:09 pm.
  • 020-042 9:18 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:18 am and 9:52 am.
  • 665-001 9:18 AM · 1 hr 32 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), William P. Rogers, Stephen B. Bull, Kenneth B. Keating, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:18 am to 10:52 am.
  • 020-043 9:52 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 9:52 am to 9:55 am.
  • 020-044 9:55 AM · 12 sec — the White House operator and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 12:49 pm.

All 21 conversations from February 3, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-039, February 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-039 (accessed October 12, 2026).