Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 362 › Conversation 362-031

Nixon & Colson on Media Relations and New York Times

Wednesday, September 6, 1972 · 2:50 PM–3:28 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation362-031 on Tape 362StartWednesday, September 6, 1972 at 2:50 PMEndWednesday, September 6, 1972 at 3:28 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 362-031 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss political strategy and media relations, focusing on negative coverage from journalists such as Max Frankel and the perceived philosophical leanings of the New York Times. The discussion also addressed political maneuvering regarding R. Sargent Shriver and George McGovern. Additionally, they reviewed intelligence concerning North Vietnamese efforts to support guerrilla operations and hijacking activities during the ongoing conflict in Vietnam.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 4 minutes of this recording (about 68% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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All right.

I was thinking on that thing also.

You should not report it.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I don't know.

Yeah, all right, don't do it again.

Just like he, that's what he said in front of me, go ahead.

I'm trying to get an idea of my feet, and I try the rudder.

Right.

Oh, thank you, that was a good idea.

I think you'll find the North VFD, I know it's missing, she's got to be checked.

I think the North VFD is trying to find a plan to support the guerrillas.

And the guerrillas are hijacking and so forth and so on.

NARA Description

On September 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:50 pm to 3:28 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 362-031 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 362-31

Date: September 6, 1972
Time: 2:50 pm - 3:28 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Charles W. Colson.

            R. Sargent Shriver
                -A report by Joseph W. Alsop
                    -A diplomat
                -Television coverage
                    -Colson's conversation with Kenneth W. Clawson

              -Max Frankel
                  -New York Times editorial
                  -Philosophical leanings
                       -George S. McGovern
              -Richard A. Moore
              -Memorandum
              -Possible news story
                  -Reuters
                  -Frankel
                  -Reuters
                  -Henry A. Kissinger[?]
                  -Reuters
                  -Alsop
                  -Frankel

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 20m 16s    ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************

          Vietnam
              -North Vietnamese
                  -Kissinger
                  -Support for guerrillas
                      -Hijacking

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]

[Duration: 9m 1s     ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

*****************************************************************

The President and Colson left at 3:28 pm.

Also recorded on September 6, 1972

362-025 12:40 PM · 17 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 12:40 pm and 2:16 pm.
362-027 2:16 PM · 52 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:16 pm and 2:50 pm.
362-028 2:16 PM · 13 sec — 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 2:16 pm and 2:50 pm.
362-029 2:16 PM · 13 sec — 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 2:16 pm and 2:50 pm.
362-030 2:16 PM · 8 sec — 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 2:16 pm and 2:50 pm.
771-007 3:30 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:30 pm and 3:47 pm.
771-008 4:00 PM · 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John B. Connally, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, Michael R. Gardner, George E. Christian, Leonard H. Marks, Jake Jacobsen, Paul Howell, Michael A. Myers, Warren Woodward, Jeno F. Paulucci, William H. G. France, John O. Marsh, Jr., Lee A. Vann, and Stephen J. Frenzl met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:00 pm to 6:04 pm.
770-001 4:42 PM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John B. Connally, White House operator, unknown person(s), Alexander P. Butterfield, Benjamin Berger, Dorothy Berger, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:42 pm to 6:04 pm.

All 16 conversations from September 6, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 362-031, September 6, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/362-031 (accessed October 1, 2026).