Nixon White House TapesTape 149 › Conversation 149-009

Nixon phone call with Camp David Operator on Communication and Charles Colson

Sunday, October 15, 1972 · 10:55 AM–11:07 AM ET · Camp David Study Table ·9 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Camp David OperatorConversation149-009 onTape 149StartSunday, October 15, 1972 at 10:55 AMEndSunday, October 15, 1972 at 11:07 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 149-009 ↗

President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent phone call to his special counsel, Charles W. Colson. The brief exchange served as a logistical request to establish a direct line of communication between the President and his advisor. No policy or substantive political matters were discussed during this connection attempt.

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Mr. Colson, please.
Thank you, sir.

On October 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 11:07 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 149-009 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 149-9

Date: October 15, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:55 am and 11:07 am
Location: Camp David Study Table

                                        (rev. Feb-24)

The President talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 220-13]

        Request for a call to Charles W. Colson
  • 220-013 10:55 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 11:07 am.
  • 149-010 11:07 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:07 am to 11:21 am.
  • 220-014 11:07 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:07 am to 11:21 am.
  • 149-011 11:24 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 11:24 am.
  • 149-012 11:24 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:35 am.
  • 149-013 11:24 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 12:00 pm.
  • 220-015 11:24 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 11:24 am.
  • 220-016 11:24 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:35 am.

Conversation 149-009, October 15, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/149-009 (accessed September 18, 2026).