Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 24 › Conversation 024-035

Colson & Haldeman on Vietnam War and Blockade

Monday, May 8, 1972 · 10:52 PM–11:22 PM ET · White House Telephone · 53 sec

ParticipantsColson, Charles W.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation024-035 on Tape 24 (tape position 00:45:57–00:46:50)StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 10:52 PMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 11:22 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 024-035 ↗

AI Summary

Charles W. Colson informs H. R. Haldeman that Jay Lovestone has issued a strong public statement supporting the President's recent decision to blockade Vietnam. The pair discusses the immediate distribution of this statement to wire services and its potential impact as a demonstration of labor support. This conversation highlights efforts by the administration to secure and publicize external endorsements following the President's Vietnam policy announcement.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. Holderman, Mr. Colson's asking for you again.
Okay.
All right.
There you are.
Yes, Chair.
I'm sorry.
I just thought there was one thing.
I don't know whether you've gotten it yet that you ought to have.
Jay Lovestone just called me, and he has put out a very strong statement.
He's put it out?
Yes.
Full support for the president.
Call upon the American people to back him all the way.
He's doing the right thing.
Jay just read it to me over the phone.
I couldn't believe it.
And he said he's put it out right now.
They just phoned it to AP and UP.
He just called him.
Did he?
Did he know that?
He said, well, I may be able to say something that will help you tomorrow.
How long ago did he call him?
About 15 minutes.
That's too long.
Jay told me they posted.
He must have just hung up and done it.
That's a hell of a statement from what he just read to me.
Good.
Well, I thought you'd like to know.
Great.
That's a source we haven't heard from in quite a while.
Right.
We may get in a few more of those.
Good.
Okay.
Okay.
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On May 8, 1972, Charles W. Colson and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-035 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 24-35

Date: May 8, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Charles W. Colson talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

[See also Conversation No. 336-69V]

     Vietnam
          -Blockade
               -The President's speech
                    -George Meany's statement
                          -Support for the President
                          -Jay Lovestone's conversation with Colson
                          -The President's previous Request for a call to Meany
                          -Statement in support of the President
                                -Distribution

Also recorded on May 9, 1972

  • 024-028 10:47 PM · 41 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and George Meany talked on the telephone from 10:47 pm to 10:48 pm.
  • 024-029 10:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Tricia Nixon Cox, and Edward R. F. Cox talked on the telephone from 10:49 pm to 10:52 pm.
  • 024-030 10:52 PM · 8 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 024-031 10:52 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 024-032 10:52 PM · 20 sec — the White House operator and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 024-033 10:52 PM · 4 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 024-034 10:52 PM · 4 min — Charles W. Colson and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 024-036 10:52 PM · 23 sec — Lawrence M. Higby and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.

All 96 conversations from May 9, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 024-035, May 9, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/024-035 (accessed October 9, 2026).