Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 337 › Conversation 337-027
Nixon & Colson on Public Relations and China diplomacy
Wednesday, May 10, 1972 · 3:59 PM–4:00 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building
AI Summary
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss an unidentified public statement or legal case that they both believe has been handled effectively. The conversation focuses on the strategic merits of this development and brief commentary on the political implications of recent diplomatic maneuvers involving China. No specific policy decisions were reached, as the brief exchange primarily centers on evaluating the public relations value of current events.
- Public Relations
- China diplomacy
- Political strategy
- White House communications
Audio
Download MP3 (part 1) · 111.4 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 112.2 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 80.2 MB
This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 04:12:57 into the tape and ends around 04:14:22.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
4:12:57I was shocked, but pleased to see someone speak on that.
4:12:59That's a great case.
4:13:02I know it is.
4:13:05Trying to do a good job of getting the class and everything together.
4:13:38You know, I think that Chinese thing might be better on your dick.
NARA Description
On May 10, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:59 pm and 4:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 337-027 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 337-27
Date: May 10, 1972
Time: Between 3:59 and 4:00 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with Charles W. Colson.
[See Conversation No. 24-67]
Conversation No. 337-28/339-1
Date: May 10, 1972
Time: 4:04-unknown before 5:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson.
Colson talked with an unknown person between 4:04 pm and 4:25 pm.
[Conversation No. 337-28/339-1F]
[See Conversation No. 24-68]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Melvin R. Laird press conference
-Evaluated
-Television coverage
-Wire service coverage
-Length
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] live coverage
-Duration
-Assessed by Colson
-Attack on critics
-Appeal for support
-Gerald R. Ford and Hugh Scott press conference
-Names of critics
-Network coverage
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Polls
-Opinion Research Corporation [ORC]
-Copies for press
-Validity
-White House polls
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 4:05 pm.
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Level of support for the President
-Release
-Press conference
-New York Times and wire services coverage
-Ronald L. Ziegler's briefing
-ORC poll
-New York Times editorial
-ORC poll
-Possible use in New York Times advertisement
-Attack on critics
-Public support
-Press reports
-Washington Post sports section
-Theodore S. (“Ted”) Williams
-Support for President’s decision
-Criticism of Democratics candidates
-Support for President
-Soviet Union
-Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] Stadium [Washington DC]
-National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]'s Today show
-President's critics
-Language
-William L. Safire
-Telegram from Thomas W. (“Teddy”) Gleason
-Ziegler
-Support for the President’s decision
-Walt W. Rostow
-Dock strike
-Rhetoric
-Memorandum to Henry A. Kissinger regarding Central Intelligence
Agency [CIA]
-Propaganda efforts in Vietnam
-Choice of words
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Speechwriters
-Deficiencies
-John B. Connally
-Laird
-Speechwriters
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-[Forename unknown] Brooks (?)
-Recruitment
-Mel Grayson
-Frank Gannon
-Grayson
-Colson’s view
-Instructions
-Grayson
Kissinger entered at 4:15 pm.
-Mines
-A talk by Robert H. Finch
-Atlanta
-Assessment of President's previous speech
-Dick Sykes
-Support for the President
-Televison talk show
-Man-on-the-street
-Kissinger's meeting with Prentis Hale
-Statements
-Roger L. Stevens
-Polls
-Support for President
-Scott
-Ford
-Poll in Pennsylvania
-Polls
-Sindlinger, ORC
-Support for President
-Support for President
-Rhetoric
-Camp David
-Propaganda efforts
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-President's memorandum to Kissinger
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Richard M. Helms
-Competence
-World War II
-Office of Strategic Services [OSS]
-Communists
-The President’s view
-Haldeman call to Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
-Propaganda
-Content
-South Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-Blockade
-Laird press conference
-Assessment
-Questions
-Demeanor
-Support for President
-Robert P. Griffin and Scott press conference
-ORC poll
-Polls
-Sindlinger
-Press conference
-Level of public support for the President
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-New York Times advertisement
-Support for the President
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 45s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**********************************************************************
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Statement
-James D. Hodgson
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Ziegler
-Cabinet
-President's instructions on statements
-President's previous speech
-Wording regarding Soviet Union
-Richardson
-Hodgson's statement
-Soviet Summit
-Possible cancellation
-Responsibility
Colson left at 4:25 pm.
-Soviet ship
-Note of protest
-US apology
-Kissinger's meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
US-Soviet Summit
-Arrangements
-Advance party
-Cancellation
-President's options
-President's meeting with Nikolai S. Patolichev
-Subjects for discussion
-Vietnam
-Time
Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:25 and 4:45 pm.
[Conversation No. 337-28/339-1A]
[See Conversation No. 24-69]
[End of telephone conversation]
US-Soviet Summit
-Dobrynin's remarks
-President's speech
-Dobrynin's response
-Kissinger's meeting with Dobrynin
-Mood
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Politburo
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Meeting with President
-Tenor
-German treaties
-Delay
-Egon Bahr
-Moscow
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 4:25 pm.
President's schedule
-A commercial flight
-Time of arrival
An unknown left at an unknown time before 4:45 pm.
Kissinger talked with Dobrynin at an unknown time between 4:25 and 4:45 pm.
[Conversation No. 337-28/339-1B]
[See Conversation No. 24-70]
[End of telephone conversation]
-President's meeting with Patolichev and Dobrynin
-Peter G. Peterson, Peter M. Flanigan
-Notification
-Time
-Reason
-Cancellation
-Likelihood
-Peterson
-Patolichev meeting
-Notification
-Subjects for discussion
-German treaties
-Status
-Significance
-Cancellation
Vietnam
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Blockade and mining
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Statement
-Options
-North Vietnam offensive
-Hue
-US air strikes
-Impact
-US-Soviet Summit
-Cancellation or postponement
-Likelihood
-Blockade
-Soviet response
-Hanoi statement
-Soviet ships
-Departure from ports
-Air strikes
-Docks
-Warehouses
-Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants [POL]
-Rails
-Impact on North Vietnam
-Repairs
-Evacuation
-Rationing
-Intensity
-Compared with Lyndon B. Johnson's 1968 bombing
-Tet offensive
-North Vietnam offensive
-Build-up
-Gains
-An Loc
-Populated areas
-Air strikes in North Vietnam
-1968 Tet offensive
-Cessation by Johnson
-Soviets
-Support for North Vietnam
-Blockade
-Soviets
-PRC
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
President's meeting with Patolichev and Dobrynin
-Publicity
-Peterson
-Kissinger’s view
Kissinger's schedule
-Briefing on Vietnam
-John C. Stennis
-Hawks
-Liberal Republican senators
-Day
-Possible appearance by the President
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 4:25 pm.
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 4:45 pm.
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Liberal Republican senators
-Briefing
-Withdrawal
-Support for the President
-Appearance by the President
-Rogers and Laird
-Advisability
-The President’s view
-Questions for the President
-Request for briefing by the President
-Clark MacGregor
-Steven S. Karalekas
-Stennis
-Barry M. Goldwater, Jr.
-John G. Tower
-Griffin
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Margaret Chase Smith
-Kissinger
-Arrangements
-Soviet Summit
-Time
-US-Soviet Summit
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Possible cancellation
-Peterson and Soviet Union trade delegation meeting
-Scheduling
-Cancellation
-Hue
-Possible delay
-Date
-Cancellation
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Kissinger left at 4:45 pm.
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 4:45 and 5:45 pm.
[Conversation No. 337-28/339-1C]
President's schedule
-Sequoia cruise
-A dinner
-Time
-Peterson
-A smaller boat
-Chief of Naval Operations
-Time
-Peterson
[End of telephone conversation]
Sequoia
-Rules of use
-Peterson
-The President’s view
-Use
-President's dinner at the White House
-Changes
-Use by the President
-Use by others
President's schedule
-Camp David
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Sequoia
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Alexander P. Butterfield
-Camp David
-Use by others
-Cabinet officers
-Use by the President
-Florida
-Use by others
-John N. Mitchell
-Richardson
-Conflicts with President's use
-Laurel Cabin
-President's trip to California
-Sequoia
-Purpose
-Meeting with senators
-MacGregor
-Advisability
-The President’s view
-Publicity
-Kissinger briefing
-Telephone calls
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Public support
-1972 election
-Duration
-Polls
-Release by Colson
-ORC poll
-Release to Congressional offices and press
-Ronald McMahon
-Scott press conference
-Press questions
-Sindlinger poll
-Quayle poll
-ORC
An unknown person entered at an unknown time between 4:45 pm and 5:45 pm.
Delivery of a note
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 4:45 and 5:45 pm.
[Conversation No. 337-28/339-1D]
Soviets
-Dinner cancellation
-Reports
-Patolichev
-Health
[End of telephone conversation]
-Confirmation
-Kissinger
[The above portion of the conversation took place simultaneously with Conversation No. 337-
28/339-1D]
The unknown peron left at an unknown time between 4:45 pm and 5:45 pm.
Haldeman talked with Kissinger at an unknown time between 4:45 and 5:45 pm.
[Conversation No. 337-28/339-1E]
-Patolichev
-Reasons
-Meeting between the President and Patolichev
-Dinner cancellation
-Significance
[End of telephone conversation]
-Peterson meeting with Patolichev
Haldeman's schedule
-Meeting with Connally
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Message from Dobrynin
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Senate Republicans
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Meeting with President
-Kissinger briefing
-Public support
-Support for the President
-White House staff
-Initiative
-Harlow
-Public support
-Reasons
-The President’s efforts
-Republicans
-Charles H. Percy, Richard S. Schweiker
-Constituents
President's schedule
-Sequoia
-New rules for use
-Camp David
-Uses
-Emergency
-Family retreat
-Conferences
-Other locations
-Airlie House
-The Homestead
-The Greenbrier
-Airlie House
-Departmental facilities
-Value to users
-Facilities
-Other locations
-Williamsburg
-Washington
-Sans Souci
-A country club
-John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-Movie Association Center
Social events
-Movie Association
-Arthur F. Burns
-Social activities
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 1s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
**********************************************************************
-Kissinger's social activities
-Effect
-Pace of work
-President's pace
Press
-White House News Summary
-President's reading
-New York Times, Washington Post
-President's reading
-Reasons
-Bias
-President's reading
-Duration
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Polls
-Release
Polls
-Sindlinger
-Financial status
-Publicity
-ORC
-The President’s view
-George H. Gallup
-Public polls
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Expense
-Publicity advantages
-ORC
-Louis P. Harris
-Syndication
-Costs
-ORC
-Mutual benefits of White House work
-Sindlinger
-Colson
-Work with Harris and Sindlinger
-News summary
-Harris poll
-Past polls compared with current polls
-Timing of release
-Topics
-Questions
-Gallup poll
-Questions
-John A. Scali
-Republican preferences
-Release
-Work with White House
-Questions
Vietnam
-Support for the President's decision on blockade and mining
-Gallup poll
-Results
-Questions
-Results
-President's peace offer
-Call from James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Kissinger
-Reston column
-President's previous speech on blockade and mining
-Kissinger
-Duration
-News reports on previous speech on blockade and mining
-Military aspect
-Peace offer
-1971 peace offer
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
-Congress
-A resolution supporting the President's peace offer
-Passage
-Funds cutoff
-Kissinger’s view
-Peace offer
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Ceasefire
-Troop withdrawal
-Congressional approval
-Ceasefire
-Troop withdrawal
-Consequences
-Reston's column
-Congress
-Funds cutoff
-Effect
-US troop withdrawal in Indochina
-Possible ceasefire violations
-Cambodia
-Thailand
-Laos
-Navy ships
-Bases
-President's peace offer
-Compared with possible Congressional proposal
-Kissinger’s view
-Political settlement
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-The President’s instruction
-Kissinger
-Soviets
-Cancellation of Patolichev dinner
-Significance
-Meeting with the President
-Peterson Dinner
-Maurice H. Stans dinner
-Effect on Sequoia schedule
-Peterson dinner
-Sequoia
-Patolichev, President, and Dobrynin meeting
Conv. No. 337-28/339-1 (cont.)
The conversation was cut off at an unknown time before 5:45 pm.Also recorded on May 10, 1972
- 337-024 3:35 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 3:55 pm.
- 024-066 3:55 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 3:59 pm.
- 337-025 3:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 3:59 pm.
- 337-026 3:55 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 3:59 pm.
- 024-067 3:59 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 3:59 pm to 4:00 pm.
- 024-068 4:04 PM · 27 sec — Charles W. Colson, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:04 pm and 4:25 pm.
- 337-028 4:04 PM · 1 hr 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, unknown person(s), H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, and Arthur F. Burns met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:04 pm and 5:45 pm.
- 339-001 4:04 PM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:04 pm to 5:45 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 337-027, May 10, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/337-027 (accessed October 9, 2026).