Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 020-118
Date: Tuesday, February 29, 1972 at 2:50 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; Colson, Charles W.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-118

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] Hello.
[0:02] Mr. Colson, Mr. President, Mr. Colson for you.
[0:07] All right.
[0:10] Hello.
[0:10] Congratulations, Mr. President.
[0:12] Oh, yes, indeed.
[0:13] I just have a minute here before I have to get into some stuff with Henry.
[0:17] But just wanted you to know you were back.
[0:20] Well, I think you handled that just beautifully.
[0:24] I've gotten a lot of reactions and impressions from around the country.
[0:30] And I think the
[0:38] was one of the really, truly great leaders of the world.
[0:43] The way in which he handled it was just, I don't know the proper words to describe it, but I heard from people whose judgment I respect, whom I tested last week as things were happening, and it was just a superb reaction.
[1:07] very skillfully, very tough, and handling very courageously the unknown, doing it beautifully.
[1:15] Your manner, the demeanor throughout was
[1:19] was, I think, probably the most impressive.
[1:21] The confidence that you... Of course, you know, I've done it, Chuck, for years, but for the last three years, and nobody's noticed it.
[1:28] Oh, well, sure, but you were on everybody's set every night.
[1:30] I mean, it was massive coverage, as you know.
[1:33] Oh, yes, yes, yes.
[1:35] Massive coverage.
[1:36] What you did, I think what you did in political terms, Mr. President, we won't talk in those terms outside.
[1:42] That's right, that's right.
[1:43] But in political terms, you converted a lot of skeptics.
[1:46] The people that I... Yeah, incidentally, I just...
[1:50] I notice that they've got something for me to sign here.
[1:53] Call me back in five minutes, will you?
[1:55] Yes, sir.
[1:55] Just five minutes.
[1:56] Yes, sir.