Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-043

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Charles W. Colson

Wednesday, April 19, 1972 · 5:20 PM–5:28 PM ET · White House Telephone · 5 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator; Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation023-043 on Tape 23StartWednesday, April 19, 1972 at 5:20 PMEndWednesday, April 19, 1972 at 5:28 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 023-043 ↗

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinated on an urgent communication strategy, focusing on the need to relay specific arguments to Charles W. Colson. The President directed the White House operator to connect him with Colson to discuss these points immediately. This exchange underscores the high level of coordination between Nixon and his top advisor regarding the handling of sensitive political tasks.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Don't worry.
I just want to tell you the arguments.
Mr. Coulson, please.
Thank you, Mr. President.

On April 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:20 pm and 5:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-043 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 23-43

Date: April 19, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:20 and 5:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 331-33A]

The President conferred with Henry A. Kissinger before the conversation began.

[See Conversation No. 331-33]

[End of conferral]

     Request for a call to Charles W. Colson
  • 023-040 4:41 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:41 pm and 4:58 pm.
  • 023-041 4:58 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:58 pm and 5:01 pm.
  • 023-042 5:01 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 5:01 pm to 5:02 pm.
  • 713-002 5:01 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:01 pm to 5:02 pm.
  • 713-003 5:02 PM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:02 pm to 5:03 pm.
  • 331-033 5:05 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Dr. W. Kenneth Riland, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:05 pm to 5:35 pm.
  • 713-004 5:05 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and 11:59 pm.
  • 023-044 5:28 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 5:28 pm to 5:35 pm.

Conversation 023-043, April 19, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-043 (accessed October 12, 2026).