Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 164 › Conversation 164-026
Ziegler & Camp David operator on Charles W. Colson and Communications
Saturday, April 28, 1973 · 7:20 PM–8:10 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 6 min
AI Summary
Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler directed the Camp David operator to locate former aide Charles W. Colson, who was visiting his son in Princeton, New Jersey. The effort to reach Colson proved difficult as he was not registered at his expected motel and had uncertain travel plans for the evening. Ziegler specifically instructed the operator to maintain a professional demeanor and ensure the request did not appear overly urgent.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On April 28, 1973, Ronald L. Ziegler and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:20 pm and 8:10 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-026 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 164-26
Date: April 28, 1973
Time: Unknown between 7:20 pm and 8:10 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table
Ronald L. Ziegler talked with the Camp David operator.
Call to Charles W. Colson
-Location
Princeton, New Jersey
-Return call
[The operator placed the telephone on hold at an unknown time.]
Colson’s location
-Motel
[The operator placed the telephone on hold at an unknown time]
[Pause]
Colson’s location
-Plans
-Search for Colson
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 164-26 (cont’d)
-UrgencyAlso recorded on April 29, 1973
- 164-024 7:06 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:06 pm and 7:11 pm.
- 164-025 7:20 PM · 3 min — Ronald L. Ziegler, Camp David operator, and Gerald L. Warren talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:20 pm and 8:10 pm.
- 164-001 8:05 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:05 pm and 8:21 pm.
- 164-027 10:05 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:05 am and 10:19 am.
- 164-028 10:19 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 10:25 am.
- 164-029 10:25 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:25 am and 10:26 am.
- 164-030 10:26 AM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William P. Rogers, and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:26 am and 10:36 am.
- 164-031 10:36 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 11:46 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 164-026, April 29, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/164-026 (accessed October 12, 2026).