Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 21 › Conversation 021-011

Nixon phone call with Colmer on Congressional Retirement and Southern Politics

Tuesday, March 7, 1972 · 2:15 PM–2:17 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colmer, William M.Conversation021-011 on Tape 21 (tape position 00:35:35–00:37:54)StartTuesday, March 7, 1972 at 2:15 PMEndTuesday, March 7, 1972 at 2:17 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 021-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Congressman William M. Colmer to express his personal regret regarding the Representative's decision to retire from public office. The President acknowledged Colmer’s long-standing service and influence as a prominent Southern legislator, inviting him to a White House reception to honor his career. They also discussed the need for new, effective leadership in Congress and coordinated the scheduling of a final luncheon in Colmer's honor.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Congressman Calmer on the line, sir.
Hello.
Yes, Mr. President.
Bill, I just read in the paper about you're not going to run, and I just wanted you to know that I was first sorry to hear it and second that sometime before the Congress gets out here, I
I want to give you a little reception or some sort of a do down here.
You've had me up to your place just to show you how much we appreciate what you've done for the country.
Mr. President, you are most gracious.
I don't know of any other man that ever held that office, that will hold it, that would be more gracious than you are.
I want you to know I appreciate you, sir.
Well, we do appreciate what you've done.
I'm telling you that.
And I think, though, you know, the towers of strength down there from the South, fellows like yourself and Dick Russell and the rest, I just hope you've got a new crop coming on that'll gut your guts.
You know?
I don't know, Mr. President.
Well, you work on it, will you?
Tell them that, you know, some of these new fellows don't impress me quite as well, Frank.
I know what you mean.
Yeah.
Mr. President.
Yes, sir.
Thank you for your invitation down there, but
Please don't get the idea that you're going to miss my final.
luncheon up here you know you've oh yeah i know about that you've been three of them since you no listen i i wouldn't miss it don't you worry well i i said no yeah it's it's in uh it's in a little later in the spring in it or summer well i told uh bill uh that anytime it was convenient to you that right sometime we go and win fine probably gonna leave it probably in april or may yeah uh mr president may i take uh advantage of this occasion to
Tell you that as one humble citizen, I appreciate what you're trying to do in certain areas, and God knows we need some help if we're going to save this young republic for future generations.
Right.
Well, we appreciate it, Bill, and it's sure good to talk to you.
It's my pleasure to have you to go.
Thank you.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On March 7, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and William M. Colmer talked on the telephone from 2:15 pm to 2:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 21-11

Date: March 7, 1972
Time: 2:15 pm - 2:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William M. Colmer.

[See Conversation No. 322-23]

     Colmer’s decision not to run for public office
         -Newspaper story
         -Invitation to White House reception
         -South
               -Colmer
               -Richard B. Russell
         -Invitation to luncheon
               -Timing
                     -William [E. Timmons]
         -Colmer’s appreciation

Also recorded on March 7, 1972

  • 322-023 2:15 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William M. Colmer met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:15 pm to 2:17 pm.
  • 021-012 2:18 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 2:18 pm.
  • 021-013 2:18 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:18 pm and 2:26 pm.
  • 021-014 2:18 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:18 pm and 2:26 pm.
  • 322-024 2:18 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 2:18 pm.
  • 322-025 2:18 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:18 pm and 2:26 pm.
  • 021-015 2:26 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm.
  • 322-026 2:26 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm.

All 43 conversations from March 7, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 021-011, March 7, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/021-011 (accessed October 2, 2026).