Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 189 › Conversation 189-001
Nixon phone call with Colson on 1972 election and Senate confirmation process
Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 9:14 AM–9:33 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 8 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed political strategies regarding the stalling of administration nominees in the Senate, which Nixon proposed framing as an issue of congressional inaction. The two also reviewed foreign policy maneuvering, including Senate voting dynamics, and touched upon preparations for the President’s upcoming trip to the Soviet Union. Additionally, the conversation included a brief evaluation of George Wallace’s potential third-party threat in the 1972 election.
- 1972 election
- Senate confirmation process
- Soviet Union summit
- Foreign policy
- George Wallace
- Congressional relations
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:14 am to 9:33 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 189-1
Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 9:14 am - 9:33 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President talked with Charles W. Colson; the recording began at an unknown time while the
telephone call was in progress.
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/10/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[189-001-w001]
[Duration: 14s]
1972 election
-George C. Wallace
-Potential for third party run
-Ballot status in Michigan
*****************************************************************
Foreign policy
-Senate role
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Actions
-An unidentified person's vote
-Michael J. Mansfield[?]
-Senate vote
President’s forthcoming trip to the Soviet Union
-Preparations
-Reading material
-Expectations
-Planning
Mansfield
-The President’s view
-Position
-Senate
-Filibuster
President's nominees
-Delays in Congress
-Political issue
-Order of confirmation
-Senate
-The President’s viewAlso recorded on May 17, 1972
- 190-020 8:44 AM · 30 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:44 am to 9:50 am.
- 189-002 9:33 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:33 am and 9:34 am.
- 189-003 9:34 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:34 am to 9:41 am.
- 189-004 9:41 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:41 am and 9:44 am.
- 189-005 9:44 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William M. Lukash met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:44 am to 9:46 am.
- 189-006 9:48 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:48 am to 9:51 am.
- 189-007 9:51 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:51 am and 9:52 am.
- 189-008 9:52 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:52 am to 10:06 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 189-001, May 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/189-001 (accessed October 12, 2026).