Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-094
Nixon phone call with Colson on 1972 election and Vietnam War
Monday, February 14, 1972 · 10:42 PM–10:52 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Charles Colson reviewed the political landscape ahead of the President’s upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, focusing on recent polling data and public sentiment. They analyzed the impact of Gallup and Samuel Lubell survey results regarding the Vietnam War, the President's approval ratings, and criticisms leveled by Edmund Muskie. The pair also discussed the political momentum of the 1972 election, including Jimmy Hoffa’s recent endorsement and strategies for managing the media narrative.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On February 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 10:42 pm to 10:52 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-094 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 20-94
Date: February 14, 1972
Time: 10:42 pm - 10:52 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Charles W. Colson.
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[020-094-w001]
[Duration: 9m 48s]
Gallup poll
-Coming out February 17, 1972
-Results
-President's approval rating
-Comparison with other polls
-Benefits before People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Charles W. Colson’s previous conversation with Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Timing in relation to political events
-Two weeks after People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Recent Edmund S. Muskie criticism
-Previous week’s H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman controversy
-President’s recent press conference
-South Vietnam
Samuel Lubell survey
-Vietnam War
-Charles W. Colson's view
-Confirmation of Albert E. Sindlinger view
-Public support of Vietnam War
-Casualties and draft
-President’s handling of war
-South Vietnam
-Edmund S. Muskie criticism of Vietnam War
-Deadline for Prisoners of War [POWs]
-George Meany comments
-Change in public attitude towards Vietnam War
-Gallup results
-Handling of Vietnam War
-Reduction of US forces in Vietnam
-Effect of war on US public
1972 election
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Behavior
-Charles W. Colson’s opinion
-Challenging William Loeb to a debate
-February 10 speech attack on William Loeb
-Response by William Loeb
-Charles W. Colson’s previous talk with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Edmund S. Muskie
-South Vietnam
-Poll results
-Gallup
-Harris
-Movement in President's position
-Pressure on Democratic presidential candidates
-James R. (“Jimmy”) Hoffa’s endorsement of President
-Issues and Answers
-Qualifications of the President
-Press coverage
Gallup poll
-Confidentiality until release
**********************************************************************Also recorded on February 15, 1972
- 671-005 7:09 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:09 pm and 11:59 pm.
- 020-091 10:22 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:22 pm and 10:32 pm.
- 020-092 10:32 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 10:32 pm to 10:40 pm.
- 020-093 10:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:40 pm and 10:42 pm.
- 020-095 9:02 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:02 am and 10:21 am.
- 672-002 9:12 AM · 3 hr 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Rose Mary Woods, Ronald L. Ziegler, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Dwight L. Chapin, White House operator, Tricia Nixon Cox, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:12 am to 12:47 pm.
- 020-096 10:30 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:45 am.
- 020-097 10:45 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 10:45 am to 10:47 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 020-094, February 15, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-094 (accessed October 25, 2026).