President Nixon and Charles Colson reviewed the events of 1972, focusing heavily on public and press reactions to the Vietnam War and recent U.S. bombing campaigns. They discussed the administration's frustration with media coverage, specifically criticizing James Reston’s analysis of Henry Kissinger and the alleged discord within the executive branch. The conversation served to coordinate political strategy and message control as the President prepared for his second term.
On December 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:17 am to 11:47 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 159-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 159-2 Date: December 31, 1972 Time: 11:17 am - 11:47 am Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 238-26] -End of the year -Review of the year ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] -Politics -Accomplishments -History -1972 campaign -Press relations -2- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 159-2 (cont’d) [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** Vietnam War -US bombing of North Vietnam -Press relations -New York Times article -Disagreement in administration -State Department -Defense Department -James B. (“Scottie”) Reston aticle [“Nixon and Kissinger”] in New York Times -Henry A. Kissinger’s position -Compared to the President’s position -Messages -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel -Timing -Kissinger’s relationship with the President -Kissinger’s possible resignation -Vietnam negotiations -Writing of record -Breakdown in talks -Effect on the President -Comments -Distortion -Reston -The President’s refusal to see -Interview with Chou En-Lai -Accuracy -Source -Kissinger -Marvin L. Kalb’s story -Colson’s conversation with Kissinger -Conversation with Kalb -Kissinger’s conversation with the President -Kalb’s congratulations -Ronald L. Ziegler -3- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 159-2 (cont’d) -John A. Scali -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -Announcement -Colson’s conversation with Scali -Timing -Public relations [PR] -International protests -Britain, France -International protests -Australia, Sweden -Press relations -Scali’s view -Scali’s role -Helen Thomas -Gerald L. Warren’s press conference -“Peacenik” -Robert Pierpoint’s report -Scali -Alleged US capitulation to North Vietnam -Credibility -Columbus, Ohio -Motives for criticism -Washington, DC -1972 election -Reston -“Preacher” -Scientists [American Association for the Advancement of Science] -George S. McGovernites -Interim before 1973 Inauguration -Patrick J. Buchanan -1972 election -Effect on establishment -Kissinger -Conversations with Kalb, McGeorge Bundy -Conversation with the President -Harvard University -Reston -Telephone calls -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 159-2 (cont’d) -Check -Instruction for Colson -White House operator, switchboard -Reston -Palm Spring, California -Reston article -Kissinger -Scali -Ziegler -Negotiations -Settlement agreement -Investigation -Colson’s call to Kissinger -Sources -National Security Council [NSC] -Scali’s view -Negotiations -Breakdown -Possible leak of wire -Effect on Kissinger -Timing -Resumption -Le Duc Tho -Paris -Attacks on Hanoi, Haiphong -Congressional relations -The President’s second term -Source -The President’s policies -Accomplishments -Effect -Settlement agreement -North Vietnam -PR -Colson’s view -Politicians -Polls -Albert E. Sindlinger -Congressional relations -Samuel L. Devine -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 159-2 (cont’d) -Press relations -George Embrey article in Columbus Dispatch -“Nixon Ends Bombing; North Vietnam to Negotiate” -Devine -“[William B.] Saxbe Feels Political Shock” -Saxbe’s comments -Devine -Condition for support -Apology -Donald D. Clancy -Op-ed article -The President’s view -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel -Republicans -Percy -Hugh Scott -Dan Rather’s report -Hubert H. Humphrey’s statement -Press coverage -Carl B. Albert’s statement -Michael J. Mansfield -Possible investigation -Consultation with Congress -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision -Negotiations -Press relations -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel -Columbia Broadcasting Company [CBS] -Hanoi -Destruction -Announcement -Airplane losses -The President’s conversation with Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -B-52s -Press relations -Timing -Attacks on Hanoi -Washington Post -Demonstration -New York Times -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 159-2 (cont’d) -Article -Writing -Timing -Negotiations -“Serious” tone -Pierpoint -Scali -Conversation with the President -Loss of B-52s -Kissinger’s press conference -US bombing north of the 20th Parallel -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision -Kissinger’s press conference -Kissinger’s concern -Self-image -Explanation of points -Ziegler -Explanation of points -Herbert G. Klein -1972 campaign -John B. Connally -Scali -Compared to Klein -Ziegler -Kissinger -Reston article -Col. Richard T. Kennedy -Telephone calls -The President’s staff -Concern -Self-image -Call from Colson -Kissinger’s telephone calls -Palm Springs, California -Kalb -Reston article -Effect on negotiations -Le Duc Tho -Questions for Warren -Sources -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 159-2 (cont’d) -Return call to the President
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.