Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 24 › Conversation 024-072

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Charles W. Colson

Thursday, May 11, 1972 · 11:22 AM–11:32 AM ET · White House Telephone · 15 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation024-072 on Tape 24 (tape position 01:23:01–01:23:16)StartThursday, May 11, 1972 at 11:22 AMEndThursday, May 11, 1972 at 11:32 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 024-072 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place calls to both Charles W. Colson and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox. Upon learning that Colson was currently meeting with John D. Ehrlichman, the President requested that Colson return the call at his convenience rather than interrupting his meeting. These logistical requests highlight the President's administrative coordination during the workday.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.
Operator, I called Mr. Coulson.
Don't get him out of a meeting if he's in.
No, he's in Mr. Ehrlichman's office.
He can return the call whenever he's free.
All right.
No hurry.
Thank you.
Would you try Tricia for me, please?
Thank you, sir.

NARA Description

On May 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:32 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-072 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 24-72

Date: May 11, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:22 am and 11:32 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 338-37]

     Request for a call to Charles W. Colson
         -Colson's location
                -John D. Ehrlichman's office
         -Return call

     Request for a call to Tricia Nixon Cox

Also recorded on May 11, 1972

  • 723-008 11:21 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:21 am and 11:22 am.
  • 024-071 11:22 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:32 am.
  • 338-037 11:22 AM · 18 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 11:22 am and 11:32 am.
  • 024-073 11:32 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 11:32 am to 11:33 am.
  • 338-038 11:32 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:32 am and 11:33 am.
  • 024-074 11:34 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 11:34 am to 11:35 am.
  • 338-039 11:34 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:34 am and 11:35 am.
  • 338-040 11:35 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:35 am and 11:43 am.

All 35 conversations from May 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 024-072, May 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/024-072 (accessed October 9, 2026).