Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 13 › Conversation 013-106

Colson & Burns on Stock market and Cost of Living Council

Wednesday, November 3, 1971 · 3:01 PM–4:25 PM ET · White House Telephone ·2 min

ParticipantsColson, Charles W.; White House operator; Burns, Arthur F.; [Unknown person(s)]; Colson, Charles W.; White House operator; Burns, Arthur F.; [Unknown person(s)]Conversation013-106 onTape 13 (tape position 03:43:57–03:45:56)StartWednesday, November 3, 1971 at 3:01 PMEndWednesday, November 3, 1971 at 4:25 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 013-106 ↗

AI Summary

Charles W. Colson attempted to reach Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns to relay positive feedback regarding the market's response to Burns' recent policy announcement. Upon learning that Burns was attending a Cost of Living Council meeting, Colson left a message with Burns' office praising the Chairman's dividend decision. Colson noted that the market's 14-point rise was attributed to the statement, and he requested that this enthusiasm be conveyed to Burns as he prepared a supportive memorandum for President Nixon.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Yes, would you see if Dr. Burns is available, if he's, yeah, see if he's available for me to talk to him, please?

Chairman's office.

This is the White House.

Mr. Colson is in the President's office asking for Dr. Burns.

Just a moment, please.

Mr. Colson?

Yes.

Hello?

Yes.

Mr. Coulson?

Yes.

Dr. Burns is over at the Cost of Living Council in room 44E.

Oh, sure.

I forgot about that.

Would you give him a message for me, please?

Of course.

Would you tell him that I was just preparing a memorandum for the President, telling him that the reaction we have gotten today from Wall Street to Dr. Burns' statement yesterday on the dividend decision has been very, very enthusiastic.

Oh, I'm glad.

And probably is...

at least in the analysis of some people, probably accountable for the fact that the market went up 14 points today.

I wouldn't be surprised.

Yeah, I think so.

I'm not at all surprised.

We really appreciate the fine job he did presenting that yesterday, and it's given the mood up there.

It's what they needed, yeah.

It is what they needed.

But just tell him that we're very thrilled with it, and I was just sending a memo into the president telling him that, and I wanted Dr. Burns to know it.

Oh, you're very kind.

Thank you so much, Mr. Colson.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

NARA Description

On November 3, 1971, Charles W. Colson, White House operator, Arthur F. Burns, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-106 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 13-106

Date: November 3, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Charles W. Colson talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 301-25B]

     Request for a call to Arthur F. Burns
                                              73

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)




The White House operator talked with Burns’ office at an unknown time.

     Colson's call to Burns
          -President
                -Burns’ location

Colson talked with an unknown woman at an unknown time.

     Burns’ location
          -Cost of Living Council meeting

     Burns’ statement, November 2nd
          -Stock market reaction
                -Colson's memo to President

Also recorded on November 3, 1971

013-103 2:45 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.
301-020 2:45 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.
301-021 2:45 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.
013-104 3:00 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 3:00 pm to 3:01 pm.
301-023 3:00 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:00 pm to 3:01 pm.
013-105 3:01 PM · 2 min — Charles W. Colson, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm.
301-024 3:01 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm.
301-025 3:01 PM · 1 hr 17 min — 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 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm.

All 67 conversations from November 3, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 013-106, November 3, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/013-106 (accessed September 18, 2026).