Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 142 › Conversation 142-009
Nixon phone call with Colson on 1972 presidential election and George McGovern
Wednesday, September 13, 1972 · 11:27 AM–11:41 AM ET · Camp David Study Table ·13 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson engage in a detailed strategic assessment of the 1972 presidential campaign, focusing on the perceived weaknesses and political challenges facing George McGovern. They analyze McGovern’s campaign mechanics, including his struggles with endorsements, media coverage, and the influence of Ted Kennedy, while contrasting these with Nixon’s own electoral strategies. The conversation serves as an analytical exercise to identify vulnerabilities in the Democratic platform and to optimize the effectiveness of the Nixon reelection effort.
- 1972 presidential election
- George McGovern
- Campaign strategy
- Press coverage
- Political polling
- Richard J. Daley
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
No transcript is available yet for this conversation. The recording may contain no audible speech, or it may not have been processed.
NARA Description
On September 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:27 am to 11:41 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 142-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 142-9
Date: September 13, 1972
Time: 11:27 am - 11:41 am
Location: Camp David Study Table
(rev. Feb-24)
The President talked with Charles W. Colson.
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 07/13/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[142-009-w001]
[Duration: 14m 15s]
Greetings
The President's health
-Time of year
-Rest
The President's schedule
-Meeting with H.R. (“Bob”). Haldeman
1972 campaign
-Crowds in 1968 and 1960 campaigns for the President
-Comparison to crowds drawn by George S. McGovern
-Media coverage
-Comparison of word usage between campaigns
-George S. McGovern
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy's supporters
-Compared to the appeal of Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Upstaging of George S. McGovern
-Endorsement by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley
-Influence by Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Statement by Vito Marzullo
-Five Alderman
-Question of the endorsement
-David E. Bradshaw
-Reactions of the President's staff to George S. McGovern
-Richard J. Daley and possible results
-Chicago crowds
-The President's campaign
(rev. Feb-24)
-Motivation
-Speculation on George S. McGovern victory
-Reactions from the President's supporters
-Public reaction and knowledge of small details during campaign
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-The type of communication in the modern day world
-Public savvy
-R. Sargent Shriver
-$1,000 dollar welfare issue
-Hugh Scott
-Press conference
-R. Sargent Shriver
-$1,000 dollar welfare issue
-Type of news coverage
-Credibility issue
-Idea of public trust
-George S. McGovern’s campaign
-The President's analysis
-George S. McGovern’s "debating himself" issue
-Speech by Robert J. Dole
-Results
-Media coverage
-Monday magazine
-Campaign methods
-Direct mail
-48,000 mailers
-Column on Abram J. Chayes
-Leo Cherne
-Ambassador William J. Porter
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Joseph W. Alsop
-Conversation with Louis Harris
-George S. McGovern’s campaign strategy
-The President's analysis
-Campaigning in big cities and timing in relation to Election Day
-George S. McGovern campaign too early
-Charles W. Colson's analysis
-Actual problems of campaign
-Massachusetts
-Edward W. Brooke's campaign for Senate
-Results for the President's campaign
(rev. Feb-24)
-Press coverage for the President's campaign
-The President's 1960 campaign
-Crowd turnout
-Lack of credit from the press
-Press coverage for George S. McGovern’s campaign
-Charles W. Colson’s view of press coverage
-Television coverage
-Lack of enthusiam
-Influence by Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy on campaign
-Comparison of George S. McGovern and Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Results of difference
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] coverage
-George S. McGovern’s campaign
-Richard J. Daley's statement
-Chicago
-Need for rallies
-George S. McGovern
-Absence of vote on revenue sharing
-Mayors
-Type of vote
-Teachers' strike issue
-Philadelphia
-Philadelphia Mayor Frank L. Rizzo
-Conversation between Charles W. Colson and Peter G. Peterson
-Picking politicians
-Smoke-filled rooms
-Gay liberation
*****************************************************************Also recorded on September 13, 1972
- 142-006 9:03 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 9:03 pm.
- 142-007 9:04 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 9:04 pm to 9:15 pm.
- 210-009 9:04 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:04 pm to 9:15 pm.
- 210-010 9:15 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:15 pm and 9:50 pm.
- 142-008 11:26 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 11:26 am.
- 210-011 11:26 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 11:26 am.
- 210-012 11:27 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:27 am to 11:41 am.
- 210-013 11:40 AM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Camp David operator, and Lawrence M. Higby met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:40 am to 1:12 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 142-009, September 13, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/142-009 (accessed September 18, 2026).