Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 136 › Conversation 136-018

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

Sunday, July 23, 1972 · 10:15 AM–10:52 AM ET · Camp David Study Table · 6 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David OperatorConversation136-018 on Tape 136 (tape position 00:52:57–00:53:04)StartSunday, July 23, 1972 at 10:15 AMEndSunday, July 23, 1972 at 10:52 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 136-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a brief telephone call through the Camp David operator to request a connection with Charles W. Colson. The exchange serves solely as a logistical request to facilitate direct communication with his special counsel. No substantive policy matters or further details are discussed during this brief administrative interaction.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Colson, please.
Thank you, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On July 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:52 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 136-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 136-18

Date: July 23, 1972

Time: Unknown between 10:15 and 10:52 am
Location: Camp David Study Table (telephone)

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 196-1]

       Request for Charles W. Colson

Also recorded on July 23, 1972

  • 196-001 10:15 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:52 am.
  • 196-002 10:15 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:52 am.
  • 136-019 10:52 AM · 43 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:52 am to 11:37 am.
  • 196-003 10:52 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:52 am to 11:37 am.
  • 136-020 11:37 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 12:18 pm.
  • 196-004 11:37 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 12:18 pm.
  • 196-005 11:37 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 12:18 pm.
  • 196-006 11:37 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 12:18 pm.

All 52 conversations from July 23, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 136-018, July 23, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/136-018 (accessed October 12, 2026).