President Nixon and Charles W. Colson coordinated the strategy for notifying Congressional leaders regarding the cessation of U.S. bombing north of the 20th parallel in Vietnam. The conversation focused on ensuring that outreach efforts by William Timmons and Henry Kissinger were synchronized to avoid duplicate calls to key figures like Hugh Scott. They also discussed managing political fallout, particularly addressing potential criticisms from congressional "mavericks" and handling media relations to maintain public support.
On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 9:53 am to 10:02 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-035 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 158-35 Date: December 30, 1972 Time: 9:53 am - 10:02 am Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 237-44] Vietnam War -US bombing of North Vietnam -Demonstration -Dean Francis B. Sayre -Response -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -Notification of Congress -William E. Timmons -Conversations with Colson and Col. Richard T. Kennedy -Call to Henry A. Kissinger -Kissinger’s telephone call -Telephone calls -42- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-35 (cont’d) -Hugh Scott -Kissinger’s telephone calls -The President’s conversation with Kissinger -Kennedy -Congressional relations -Possible hearings -William Fulbright -Dr. Thomas E. (“Doc”) Morgan -Kissinger, William P. Rogers -Negotiations -Colson’s conversation with Timmons -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -John A. Scali -Telephone calls -Announcement -Scali -Colson -Gerald L. Warren -Public relations [PR] -Colson’s possible call to the President -The President’s possible call to Colson -Timing -Scali -US bombing of North Vietnam -Congressional relations -Media relations -William B. Saxbe’s statements -Response -Timmon’s possible call to Saxbe -Thomas C. Korologos -Donald E. Lukens -Compared to Samuel L. Devine -Hubert H. Humphrey -Statement -PR -Albert E. Sindlinger’s poll -Intensity -Congressional relations -Reconvention -43- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-35 (cont’d) -Timing -1972 election -Humphrey -Saxbe’s statements -Previous statements and actions -G. Harrold Carswell vote -Letter -Response -Hugh Scott th -Cessation north of 20 Parallel -Notification of Congress -Scott -Possible call from Kissinger -Kissinger’s telephone calls -The President’s instructions -Timmons’s telephone calls -Timmons’s telephone calls -Scott -Kissinger’s telephone calls -Colson’s conversation with Timmons -John C. Stennis -Stennis -Liberals -Scott -Gerald R. Ford -Michael J. Mansfield -Stennis -F. Edward Hebert -Carl B. Albert -Leaders -The President’s decision -Explanation -Scali -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision -Bombing and mining north of 20th Parallel -Suspension -Negotiations -Tone -Resumption -44- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-35 (cont’d) -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -Announcement -Press relations -Scali’s view -Wires -Saigon -United Press International [UPI] article -Reaction -Tone
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.