President Nixon and Charles Colson strategized on how to politically weaponize former Attorney General Ramsey Clark’s recent criticisms of the administration’s Vietnam policies. They viewed Clark’s public opposition as hypocritical given his own role in escalating the conflict, and planned to use these remarks to shock the public. As a follow-up action, they agreed to task John Mitchell with pressuring George McGovern to either address or repudiate Clark’s controversial statements.
On August 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 6:14 pm to 6:35 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 137-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 137-3 Date: August 11, 1972 Time: 6:14 pm - 6:35 pm Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with the Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 201-1] [Unintelligible] William P. Rogers -W. Ramsey Clark -Remarks concerning the President’s Vietnam policies -US casualties -George S. McGovern -John N. Mitchell ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 17m 29s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 *****************************************************************
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.