President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discussed final 1972 re-election campaign strategies, focusing on leveraging public support to strengthen the President's hand in upcoming international negotiations with Vietnam, the Soviet Union, and China. Nixon emphasized the necessity of framing the election as a crucial vote of confidence that would be closely monitored by global powers. Additionally, they evaluated recent media successes regarding legislation for senior citizens and coordinated plans for saturating radio broadcasts to maintain electoral momentum.
On October 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:03 pm to 7:13 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-101 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 032-101
Date: October 31, 1972
Time: 7:03 pm - 7:13 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 01/23/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[032-101-w001]
[Duration: 52s]
1972 campaign
-Polls
-Albert Sindlinger data
-Distribution at political meeting
-Clark MacGregor
-Robert Dole
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-John B. Connally
-Publicity
-Necessity
-Connally’s role in campaign
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Foreign policy themes
-Vote of confidence in the President
-Vietnam
-The President's goals
-Relations with Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Importance
-Impact of vote on negotiations with Soviet Union and PRC
-Use in advertisement
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/23/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[032-101-w003]
[Duration: 2m 10s]
The President's campaign strategy
-Clark MacGregor
-Negative Ads
-Colson’s call to H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Local schedules
-Funding
-Momentum
-Slippage
-The President’s conversation with Ronald Ziegler
-Six-state visit finale
-Radio spots
-Television spots
-Comparison to George S. McGovern's visits
-Ronald Ziegler
-Timing
-Latest poll
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The President's schedule
-Picture-taking ceremony
-House Resolution 1 signing
-Publicity
-Senior citizens
-New York Times
-Networks
-Radio speech on aging, October 30, 1972
-Publicity
-Radio talks
-Reruns
-Instructions for H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Value
-Effectiveness
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/23/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[032-101-w004]
[Duration: 4m 26s]
Polls
-Lou Harris
-Calls from political reporters
-Election victory
-Point spread
-Richard Scammon
-Chicago Sun-Times straw poll
-Consistency
-Scope
-Results in Illinois
-Significance
-National total
-Illinois results
-Significance
-California
-Massachusetts
-Michigan
-Pennsylvania
-NBC survey
-Douglas Kiker
-In favor of President
-I.W. Abel's neutrality
-Western Pennsylvania
-Nixon Country
-Eastern part of state
-Mayor Frank Rizzo's support
-Philadelphia
-Low registration
-Blacks
-Sindlinger's prediction
-Black voters
-Predicted turnout
-Possibly lower
-Apathy
-McGovern
-Reaction to Harris poll
-NBC ABC coverage
-Accuracy of information
-Polls
-Harris's reaction
Return call to the President
-CBS coverage
******************************************************************************This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.