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Conversation 275-026

TapeTape 275StartTuesday, September 7, 1971 at 5:32 PMEndTuesday, September 7, 1971 at 5:43 PMTape start time01:58:12Tape end time02:00:39ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the strategic timing of a political surrogate’s upcoming high-profile event to maximize its impact. The conversation focuses on leveraging this individual to counter Democratic opposition despite acknowledged concerns regarding his public image and past controversies. Ultimately, the two coordinate logistics to ensure the surrogate's performance is effectively managed and presented to the public.

Political StrategyPublic RelationsCampaign TacticsSurrogatesDemocratic Party
AudioNARA Description

On September 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:32 pm to 5:43 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 275-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 275-026

Date: September 7, 1971
Time: 5:32 pm - 5:43 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Charles W. Colson

[See Conversation No. 008-038]

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/10/2017.
Segment cleared for release]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Seems to be a quiet day.
Yeah.
Yeah.
One thing we want to do, of course, we've got a big gun, sort of in the wing, in our department.
I know this is your memorandum of covering, and, boy, we really got to trot him out, and you said he was underweight, and actually he always does.
But until, you know, he's going to be paying attention to it, but about next week, he's going to have one hell of an event.
And then, Christine, if you need to come up and pick her up, send her out.
That's fine.
The staff are actually going to decide to send her to my car, so no one gets to put her away.
But if you're going to pick her up, it all comes down to the quality.
The Democrats are both a damn thing.
I tried.
I tried.
We realized that it was really hard.
It brought us this blind...
A narrow part of the ship, you know, you know, it's positive there, but it's going to have to be the guy to ski up.
He has pretty much condemned for him anyway for a variety of reasons, you know.
He must be just in a bad situation as well, but it's not that he is very effective in doing it.
But they've got to cover him.
Okay.
Okay.
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