Conversation 307-018

TapeTape 307StartWednesday, December 8, 1971 at 3:30 PMEndWednesday, December 8, 1971 at 3:39 PMTape start time00:37:28Tape end time00:39:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building

President Nixon and Charles Colson confer regarding pressure from Attorney General John Mitchell to expedite a decision on a sensitive political appointment or matter involving a potential senator. Nixon expresses hesitation about the proposed course of action, indicating he intends to consult with Mitchell personally to resolve the impasse. The discussion underscores internal administration friction and the uncertainty surrounding personnel strategy and its broader political implications.

John MitchellPersonnel appointmentsPolitical strategyWhite House decision-makingSenate

On December 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:30 pm to 3:39 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 307-018 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 307-18

Date: December 8, 1971
Time: 3:30 pm - 3:39 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 16-53]
                                                9

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Uh, Chuck.
Mitchell, uh, uh, just on the whole of it, Mitchell is, you know, pressing to get a decision on a small thing.
And, uh, he has, um, cautioned on it, you know, on the first day for a thing, and they both leave doing it.
Now, uh, I, uh, just wondered what your latest view on what kind of senator is.
But he wants it now, huh?
Yeah.
He's talking about that.
I understand it's not true that they can see this, but what Mitchell's talking about is putting it on Chris's list.
I know, I think everybody would, but I'm going to talk to Mitchell again about it when he's told me.
I have.
I'll try again.
I'll try once again.
I'll say it.
I'll look at it.
I must throw a bullet.
It won't work.
That's enough of it.
That's it.
That's it.
That's it.
That's it.
effect on people that are involved in labor.
You know, they don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
They don't know what to do.
Take a crack at it.