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Conversation 201-013

TapeTape 201StartSaturday, August 12, 1972 at 10:35 AMEndSaturday, August 12, 1972 at 11:11 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss campaign messaging strategy, specifically focusing on the administration’s credibility and the successful transition to an all-volunteer military. They emphasize leveraging the reduction of draftees and the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam as key accomplishments to highlight during the reelection campaign. Nixon underscores the importance of publicizing these defense-related achievements to bolster his political standing against opponents.

Campaign strategyVietnam WarMilitary draftAdministration credibilityDefense policy1972 election
AudioNARA Description

On August 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:35 am to 11:11 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 201-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 201-13

Date: August 12, 1972
Time: 10:35 am - 11:11 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 137-8; three items have been withdrawn]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

off.
Well, how are things going today?
Good.
Your tag is credibility.
Now, of course, we fill them up some this way.
It gets in as a fact that you've got to respond
He responded yet.
You can check the bios, I think.
I told him to check it.
There's the godsend.
And Ben Williams is thinking to listen to himself.
But that's all right.
Right ahead.
He ought to particularly get a defense expenditure in order to recover.
No draft.
We've got so many men out of the armed services.
We've got five men out of Vietnam.
We're not drafting any, no draftees in Vietnam.
And the number of draftees around is so many.
And it is going to be zero.
And that's a tremendous accomplishment.
We've got the campaign.
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