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Conversation 190-010

TapeTape 190StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 7:49 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 8:20 PMTape start time00:34:49Tape end time00:44:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for managing public and political opposition following a recent administration announcement. The pair focuses on pressuring Democratic critics and media network owners, concluding that the administration must aggressively confront its political opponents. Nixon emphasizes the need for continued, combative engagement to ensure the opposition remains out of step with the public.

Political strategyMedia relationsDemocratic PartyPublic opinionPolitical campaigning
AudioNARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:49 pm and 8:20 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 190-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 190-10

Date: May 17, 1972

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

Time: Between 7:49 and 8:20 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

Charles W. Colson talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 131-19; three items have been withdrawn from this conversation]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Like, yeah, yeah, that's the, uh, this is where we're at right now, and all that.
I must say, the whole bunch here on the left, because of the way they went off the event after he announced it on Monday.
Really, they did go off there.
I told you, you know, he finds a lot of these things.
There we go.
Right.
He'll kill them.
They bet they were wrong.
It's really tough.
Having somebody hit the top people, you know, the same, you know, the owners of the networks are also affected.
They don't want to be way out there, out of step with the factory.
Keep at it, that's right.
That's right, just so people will find their way around here.
You know, the interesting thing is that I think the Democratic critics, they do find out that they're a little leery that aren't they there.
They're not there as loud as they were about three days ago.
There's nobody better than he is, isn't that true?
Kill her.
We just gotta fight him now.
We gotta fight these two, you know.
I'm scared to kill him.
I'm scared to do that.
That's too bad.
That's right, and then if they want to vote it down in a partisan way, it's fine.
I think they're very right.
Right?
I think they ought to start hitting the dance floor.
Just hard as hell.
And just because Mike is a nice guy, goddammit, he's not for what we're trying to do.
We still get it.
Hell no.
That's right.
I'm circuiting them right now about the painful tomorrow.
Run against them.
Run against them.
Well, anyway, it's a lot different from what it was in the days of AT&T.
Makes us sorry, but not better than we can be.
Sorry, but I don't get on this stuff.
It's their crap.
No, they're at school.
That's right.
They don't care about water pollution and all that crap.
That doesn't matter.
It's not fun.
Revenants are there.
We'll alter everyone.
Oh.
There's nothing coming out of that.
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