President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for managing negative press coverage regarding the International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) scandal. They specifically address efforts to influence the Washington Star and journalist Smith Hempstone, as well as the investigation into Dita Beard and the involvement of White House staff. The conversation focuses on countering damaging narratives through media management and monitoring ongoing inquiries.
On March 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 6:29 pm to 6:34 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-062 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 21-62 Date: March 13, 1972 Time: 6:29 pm - 6:34 pm Location: White House Telephone The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 323-14] International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] -Colson’s call to Smith Hempstone -Robert Walter’s article in the Washington Star -Grinnell company -Peter M. Flanigan -Dillon Reed -Divestiture -Ronald L. Ziegler -Washington Star -Editorial -Apology -Ad -Call to Hempstone -Crosby S. Noyes -Panda story -Kenneth W. Clawson -Jack N. Anderson -Call to Walters -Investigation -Typewriter experts -Dita D. Beard -Washington Star -Hempstone -Newbold Noyes -Crosby Noyes
No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.