Conversation 158-046

TapeTape 158StartSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 11:54 AMEndSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 11:56 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceCamp David Study Table

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson confer regarding public relations messaging surrounding the recent cessation of U.S. bombing north of the 20th Parallel in Vietnam. Colson reports feedback from Henry Kissinger, who advocates for a restrained public approach to avoid over-discussing the administration's strategic shifts. The discussion reinforces the need for the President to maintain control over the messaging narrative to ensure consistency in congressional and public communications.

Vietnam WarHenry KissingerPublic RelationsBombing CessationStrategic Communications

Audio

NARA Description

On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:54 am to 11:56 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-046 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 158-46

Date: December 30, 1972
Time: 11:54 am - 11:56 am
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 238-8]

       Vietnam War
            -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                 -Announcement
                 -The President’s call to Henry A. Kissinger
                        -Colson’s call to Kissinger
                             -Reaction
                             -Colson’s conversation with John B. Connally
                 -Colson’s conversation with Col. Richard T. Kennedy
                        -Gerald L. Warren’s press conference
                             -Kissinger’s press conference, December 16, 1972
                                   -Reference to transcript
                                          -Kissinger’s view
                                                -Public relations [PR]
                 -Colson’s call to Kissinger
                        -Congressional relations
                                               -60-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. May-08)

Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah, I'm just going to have to call, uh, everyone to take a copy here.

Uh, we're going to get up to the last column today, but before I do, I'd like you to just give your name and your name, and make sure that, you know, that you've voted on it.

Please vote for it.

And if you can't, it's helpful if everybody's voted.

And if everybody's voted, without a doubt, you know, everybody would do that very, very well.

Right.

And I'm really sure you have.

I just got a call from, I haven't had a chance to call Henry yet, because I was just trying to find out who's out, but I'll get him.

But, uh, Carl Kennedy called, and he said that Henry's just called in, and he said to...

He says now that the reference to that previous meeting was a good idea.

And he said that he's not worried about that, but he's worried that we don't have to talk it up too much.

And that's just what we should be doing.

That's what I was going to say.

I mean, you got this.

And I think the President should take over.

You got this.

And I appreciate that.

I think that everybody has this.

But I don't know what you're going to do.

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