Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 238 › Conversation 238-008

Nixon phone call with Colson on Henry Kissinger and Economic policy

Saturday, December 30, 1972 · 11:54 AM–11:56 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation238-008 on Tape 238StartSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 11:54 AMEndSaturday, December 30, 1972 at 11:56 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 238-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs Charles Colson to contact Henry Kissinger to provide reassurance regarding ongoing administrative operations and personnel reactions. The conversation focuses on ensuring Kissinger feels supported by the President's directives as he prepares to receive additional data. Nixon emphasizes the need for a unified front to prevent internal friction, specifically noting the challenges of controlling the economy.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
I'm going to have to call Henry and obviously get him set up with that balance of data.
Before I do, I'd like you to give him a ring and give him a ring before he's done.
And say, look, hey, everything is being done properly.
They're loving this building.
President's issue orders to that effect.
And everybody's reacting very, very well.
We just want to make sure that everything is going to be good.
So because I don't want to call it a full load drill on the guard of that.
Because would you just tell him, just say, Henry, you've got this.
And the president would say that you talk to him, and he'd sit down and talk to him.
Everybody does this, but we'll talk about one thing, that you can't control the economy.

NARA Description

On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:54 am to 11:56 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 238-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 238-8

Date: December 30, 1972
Time: 11:54 am - 11:56 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 158-46]
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on December 30, 1972

  • 158-042 11:51 AM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Cmdr. Alexander R. Larzelere talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:51 am to 11:52 am.
  • 158-043 11:52 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 11:52 am.
  • 158-044 11:52 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:52 am to 11:53 am.
  • 238-005 11:52 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 11:52 am.
  • 238-006 11:52 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:52 am to 11:53 am.
  • 158-045 11:53 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:53 am and 11:54 am.
  • 238-007 11:53 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:53 am and 11:54 am.
  • 158-046 11:54 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:54 am to 11:56 am.

All 64 conversations from December 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 238-008, December 30, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/238-008 (accessed October 11, 2026).