Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 131 › Conversation 131-017

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Charles W. Colson

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 7:33 PM–7:44 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 16 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation131-017 on Tape 131 (tape position 01:00:38–01:00:54)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 7:33 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 7:44 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 131-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator to facilitate urgent contact with Charles W. Colson. The operator confirmed that a message had been left at Colson's residence and that he was currently en route. No further actions or substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief administrative exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Yes, sir.
We've left word at Mr. Coulson's residence.
He's en route at the present time.
Right.
Right.
Okay.
Let's see.
Let's try... That's right.
Nothing right now.
All right, sir.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:33 pm and 7:44 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 131-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 131-17

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 7:33 pm and 7:44 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The Camp David operator talked with the President.

[See also Conversation No. 190-8]

     Charles W. Colson
          -Location
          -Return call

Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 190-006 6:40 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Beverly J. Kaye, and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:40 pm and 7:33 pm.
  • 131-016 7:33 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 7:33 pm.
  • 190-007 7:33 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 7:33 pm.
  • 190-008 7:33 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:33 pm and 7:44 pm.
  • 131-018 7:44 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 7:44 pm.
  • 190-009 7:44 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 7:44 pm.
  • 131-019 7:49 PM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 7:49 pm to 8:20 pm.
  • 190-010 7:49 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:49 pm and 8:20 pm.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 131-017, May 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/131-017 (accessed September 18, 2026).