Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-147
Nixon phone call with Colson on 1972 Presidential Election and Ohio Primary
Wednesday, May 3, 1972 · 8:10 PM–8:18 PM ET · White House Telephone · 8 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Charles Colson analyzed the emerging results of the 1972 Ohio primary election. They discussed the performance of Democratic contenders George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey, as well as the political implications of recent polling data shared by pollster Louis Harris. The conversation focused on interpreting voter enthusiasm and the broader electoral landscape heading into the general election.
- 1972 Presidential Election
- Ohio Primary
- George McGovern
- Hubert Humphrey
- Public Opinion Polling
- Democratic Party Strategy
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
No transcript is available yet for this conversation. The recording may contain no audible speech, or it may not have been processed.
NARA Description
On May 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 8:10 pm to 8:18 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-147 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 23-147
Date: May 3, 1972
Time: 8:10-8:18 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Charles W. Colson.
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/21/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[023-147-w001]
[Duration: 7m 27s]
1972 election
-Ohio primary
-Wire service reports
-Returns
-Robert A. Taft, Jr.
-Figures
-Republican returns
-Democratic returns
-George S. McGovern
-Reaction of Ohio politicians
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Supporters
-Lack of enthusiasm
-George S. McGovern
-Moral victory
-Results on May 4
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Victory
-Analysis
-Charles W. Colson’s conversation with Louis Harris
-Reaction of Louis Harris
-Democratic majority
-American people
-Gallup poll
-Analysis
*****************************************************************Also recorded on May 4, 1972
- 023-148 8:19 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:19 pm.
- 023-149 8:19 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:19 pm.
- 719-001 8:43 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:43 am and 8:45 am.
- 719-002 8:45 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:45 am to 8:57 am.
- 719-003 8:58 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:58 am to 9:02 am.
- 719-004 9:06 AM · 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, Henry A. Kissinger, and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:06 am to 9:59 am.
- 023-150 9:30 AM · 38 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:30 am and 9:35 am.
- 719-005 9:59 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:59 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 023-147, May 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-147 (accessed October 10, 2026).