Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 211 › Conversation 211-022

Nixon phone call with Colson on Watergate and Public Relations

Sunday, September 17, 1972 · 1:53 PM–2:22 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation211-022 onTape 211StartSunday, September 17, 1972 at 1:53 PMEndSunday, September 17, 1972 at 2:22 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 211-022 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss general living arrangements and the ongoing political implications of the Watergate investigation. The conversation centers on strategic messaging regarding potential "whitewash" accusations against the administration. Nixon and Colson deliberate on the timing and public framing of their response to these allegations, ultimately leaning toward a sustained public push rather than a brief rebuttal.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, you're having a blast, aren't you?

Are you full in your backyard?

That's good.

Where do you live?

How long does it take you up there?

At all?

I thought it was a freeway.

That's right.

That must be a good choice.

much better than living in that miserable georgetown all those rats oh god you know i you know uh i think secret church afraid to go through there yeah yeah yeah yeah well how's the how's the uh uh

I guess, uh, yeah.

But, uh, whitewash and so forth.

But, uh, I think somebody else might have said now, look, either put up or shut up.

I saw that.

It'd go a week, I think.

Maybe you're right.

I, uh, rather than do one or two days because, uh,

Try it.

NARA Description

On September 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 1:53 pm to 2:22 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 211-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 211-22

Date: September 17, 1972
Time: 1:53 pm - 2:22 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation no. 143-9; one item has been withdrawn from this conversation]

Also recorded on September 17, 1972

143-005 11:28 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:30 am.
143-007 11:30 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Lt. Col. William L. Golden talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:30 am to 11:31 am.
211-018 11:30 AM · 58 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Lt. Col. William L. Golden met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:30 am to 11:31 am.
211-019 1:00 PM · 13 sec — Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:00 pm and 1:25 pm.
143-008 1:25 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 1:53 pm.
211-020 1:25 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 1:53 pm.
211-021 1:25 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 1:53 pm.
143-009 1:53 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 1:53 pm to 2:22 pm.

All 18 conversations from September 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 211-022, September 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/211-022 (accessed September 18, 2026).