Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 34 › Conversation 034-018

Nixon phone call with Colson on Vietnam War and public opinion

Tuesday, December 5, 1972 · 8:26 AM–8:27 AM ET · White House Telephone · 42 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation034-018 on Tape 34StartTuesday, December 5, 1972 at 8:26 AMEndTuesday, December 5, 1972 at 8:27 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 034-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss a recent Louis Harris poll regarding public sentiment toward Vietnam War settlement options. Nixon requests that Colson bring the specific polling data to his office for review. The conversation serves to facilitate immediate access to information concerning domestic reactions to ongoing peace negotiations.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I was talking here to Colonel Kennedy and he was referring to a Harris poll on a choice between continuing or getting a bad settlement.
Do you know what that is?
Yes, sir.
I have a copy of it.
It was actually the poll that Lou came out with yesterday.
Oh, yeah.
And would you bring it in to me?
I'll come right in.
Yes, sir.
Come right in with it.

NARA Description

On December 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 8:26 am to 8:27 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 034-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 34-18

Date: December 5, 1972
Time: 8:26 am – 8:27 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 387-4B]

       Colson’s location

       Vietnam negotiations
            -The President’s conversation with Col Richard T. Kennedy
                 -Louis P. Harris poll, December 4, 1972
                        -Settlement agreement
                        -Request for a meeting with Colson
                                            -17-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on December 5, 1972

  • 034-016 7:57 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:57 am.
  • 387-001 7:57 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 7:57 am.
  • 387-002 7:57 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:57 am and 8:10 am.
  • 034-017 8:10 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:26 am.
  • 387-004 8:10 AM · 1 hr 60 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, White House operator, Charles W. Colson, unknown person(s), Manolo Sanchez, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:10 am to 9:50 am.
  • 034-019 8:56 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy talked on the telephone from 8:56 am to 8:59 am.
  • 034-020 9:44 AM · 56 sec — Tricia Nixon Cox and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 9:44 am to 9:45 am.
  • 034-021 10:13 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:13 am.

All 48 conversations from December 5, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 034-018, December 5, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/034-018 (accessed September 28, 2026).