← 188-014189-002 →

Conversation 189-001

TapeTape 189StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 9:14 AMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 9:33 AMTape start time00:01:08Tape end time00:09:36ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
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 electionSenate confirmation processSoviet Union summitForeign policyGeorge WallaceCongressional relations
AudioNARA 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 view
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.

in the foreign policy direction?
Sure.
Oh, I heard it.
It's true.
Yeah.
Well...
I'd be surprised.
Henry may not have...
He may have been a little too rough on him.
Henry Stark, though.
Well, well, let it go, let it go.
He'll get some heat.
We were close to him.
We talked to him.
We can't talk to everybody, but, yeah, yeah.
All right.
Well, let him know we're not, we're not a bit put out about his vote.
Let's not let him feel, develop his feet deeper.
Yeah.
Right, good, good.
Well, at least the vote's taking place, that's that.
I heard that, yeah.
Yeah?
Oh, he's great.
Well, three is all right.
We can take three.
All right.
Yeah.
All right.
Good.
Hey, well, that's, uh, back to my books.
All right.
How are they doing?
Fine.
I've got to, of course, uh, from now on, I'll just do a version of this.
However, it's moving along.
We're still going to be ups and downs, but I think the general trend is going to be up.
If we can just hold our feet together.
Yeah.
Yeah, well, they may have a piece of bang on 18 because it's touching its birthday.
So they do.
Yeah.
Right.
Right.
Well, Mansfield, of course, is just playing the dog in the manger thing.
The son of a bitch just wants everything and gives nothing in return.
It's getting pretty tiresome.
Figures that something's going on here.
He's really worried that maybe, you know, all of his theories may explode on him.
Just get them up.
They aren't going to do a damn thing.
We don't want them.
All right.
Well, we just do our best.
They don't confirm the nominees.
It's a turning out now.
They just had a devil along with unconfirmed nominees.
We could turn that on them as an issue now, the way I feel it.
I just think they've gone too far now.
Yeah.
Don't let him go first.
That's right.
No, we can simply say they've got that.
It's because we have an inactive Senate.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Okay, good luck.
← 188-014189-002 →