Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 238 › Conversation 238-027
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Vietnam War
Sunday, December 31, 1972 · 11:47 AM–12:00 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 14 min
AI Summary
In this memorandum dictated at Camp David, President Nixon reflects on the domestic and political fallout of the recent bombing halt in North Vietnam. He discusses the necessity of military action to force Hanoi back to the negotiating table and outlines strategy for shaping public and congressional perception of these events through Charles Colson. Furthermore, the President touches upon his own personal struggles with sleep and stress, and touches on organizational considerations for his second term, including the roles of Henry Kissinger and Herbert Klein.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 7 minutes of this recording (about 51% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On December 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:47 am and 12:00 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 238-027 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 238-27
Date: December 31, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:47 am and 12:00 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President dictated a memorandum for the file.
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon schedule
-The President’s schedule
-Stress
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 238-27 (cont’d)
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Rose Bowl Parade
Vietnam negotiations
-Telephone call to Charles W. Colson
-Public reaction to bombing halt
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-“Valleys and peaks”
-1972 Moscow Summit
-John B. Connally
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Public reaction
-Compared to May 8, 1972 decision
-Necessity
-Hopes for peace
-Telephone call to Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-The President’s sleep habits
-Effects
-US service members
-Courage
-Compared to the President
-Press relations
-Newspaper coverage
-Bombing halt
-Colson
-Political benefits
-Press reaction
-Bombing halt
-Effect
-Public relations
-White House efforts
-Attacks on the administration
-Congressional relations
-Consultations
-Armed Services Committee
-Appropriations
-Michael S. Mansfield
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston article
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 238-27 (cont’d)
-Negative content
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Portrayal compared to the President
-Response
-Colson
-Kissinger
-Press relations
-Second term reorganization
-Herbert G. Klein
-Possible retention
-Counselor
-Travel
-Television [TV]
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************Also recorded on December 31, 1972
- 238-024 7:39 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 7:39 pm on December 30, 1972 and 12:00 am on December 31, 1972.
- 237-043 9:41 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 9:41 pm and 9:53 pm.
- 159-001 9:55 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 11:17 am.
- 238-025 9:55 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 11:17 am.
- 159-002 11:17 AM · 30 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:17 am to 11:47 am.
- 238-026 11:17 AM · 30 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:17 am to 11:47 am.
- 035-039 6:51 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:51 pm and 7:34 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 238-027, December 31, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/238-027 (accessed October 10, 2026).