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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.