President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for managing public and congressional opinion regarding the ongoing Vietnam War, specifically focusing on the recent US bombing campaigns against North Vietnam. They analyze the impact of media reporting and political opposition—including protests led by figures like George McGovern—while emphasizing the importance of maintaining U.S. credibility in the peace negotiations. The conversation also touches upon the need to coordinate with congressional leaders and frame the administration's actions to ensure public support for the war effort and the eventual peace settlement.
On December 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:20 pm to 5:32 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-024 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 158-24 Date: December 29, 1972 Time: 5:20 - 5:32 pm Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 237-30] Vietnam War -US bombing of North Vietnam -Justification -Settlement agreement -Enforceability -US commitments and credibility -US allies -Negotiations -North Vietnam’s “filibuster” -North Vietnam’s preparation to fight -Colson’s conversation with John A. Scali -Infiltration -Settlement agreement -US credibility -30- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-24 (cont’d) -Enforceability -Pause -Press reports -People’s Republic of China [PRC] -South Vietnam -North Vietnam -Scali -View -Compared to Colson’s view -Report on public relations -Role -Media relations -Wires -United Press International [UPI] -Associated Press [AP] -Television [TV] -The President’s decision -Historical perspective -Henry A. Kissinger -Previous statements -Congressional relations -Consultations -Leaders -William E. Timmons -Senate, House of Representatives -Republicans -William B. Saxbe’s statements -Senate Armed Services Committee -Response -Ohio -Donald E. Lukens -Samuel L. Devine -Lukens -Republicans -1972 election -The President’s victory -Margin -Ohio -Defeats -31- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-24 (cont’d) -Margaret Chase Smith -J. Caleb Boggs -Jack Miller -Gordon L. Allott -Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson -House of Representatives -Democrats -George S. McGovern -William A. Rusher -Yale University -1970 campaign -Contributions -Murray M. Chotiner -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -Announcement -Effect -Scali’s view -Liberals’ view -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Killing of civilians -Responsibilty -Honor -Media relations -Colson’s view -Killing of civilians -North Vietnamese rocket attack on Hue -Demonstrations -McGovern -Dean Francis B. Sayre -Response -Washington National Cathedral -Signs -“Tell it to Hanoi” -Tone -Blind Vietnam veteran -32- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08)
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.