President Richard Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss campaign strategy and the prevailing political landscape leading up to the 1972 election. They analyzed the building of a new voter coalition targeting ethnic groups and the middle class, contrasting their approach with the Democratic base. Additionally, the two reflected on public perceptions of the Vietnam War, the role of the media, and the psychological motivations of professional classes—such as teachers and journalists—who frequently critiqued the administration.
On October 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:20 pm to 5:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 370-013 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 370-13
Date: October 19, 1972
Time: 4:20 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 3s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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Colson’s schedule
-Cancellation
-Forthcoming Camp David meeting
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
Forthcoming Camp David meeting
-Domestic issues
-Handling
-Attack on George S. McGovern
National economy
-Gross National Product [GNP]
-Government purchase spending
-Economic growth
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Personal income
-Consumer Price Index [CPI]
(rev. Oct-06)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 33s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 4:20 pm.
Unknown item
-Abraham Lincoln sitting room
-Briefcase
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 5:00 pm.
Colson’s schedule
-Dinner in New York City, October 20, 1972
-Thomas W. (“Teddy”) Gleason
-Irish Institute of New York
-John F. Kennedy Award
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Colson’s message from the President
-Award to Gleason
-The President's message
-Tone
-Paul Hall
-The President's message
-Gleason’s patriotism
-Kennedy
-Relationship with the President
-Belief in strong America, refusal to surrender
-McGovern
-National defense, peace with honor
(rev. Oct-06)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 11m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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1972 campaign
-Corruption
-Confidence in the President compared to McGovern
-Strength of character
-John N. Mitchell's view
-Vietnam
-Prisoner’s of War [POWs]
-Carol Hanson's comment
-Television coverage
-McGovern
-Return of three POWs, September 17, 1972
-Campaign momentum
-The President’s recent comments at meeting of National League of Families of
American Prisoners
-Network coverage
-Colson’s recent staff meeting and missing in Southeast Asia
-Possible allegations
-Voters' attitudes towards issues and politics
-Connally's view
-Sindlinger's views
-Public boredom and annoyance
-Building for the future
-South
-Labor unions
-Catholics
-Ethnic groups
-Franklin D. Roosevelt's coalition
-Poor, blacks, Jews
-The President's coalition
(rev. Oct-06)
-Middle class
-Catholic vote
-1969
-Public education
-Professional educators
-Parochial schools
-Lifestyle issues
-Ethnic groups
-Italian-Americans
-Louis P. Harris
-Irish-Americans
-Vietnam
-The President's May 8, 1972 decision
-Effect on US public confidence
-North Vietnam
-Polls
-McGovern's comments
-North Vietnam
-Spiro T. Agnew’s views
-Advisors
-Jay Lovestone’s views
-Views regarding Vietnam and communism
-Helen Gahagen Douglas
-Henry A. Wallace
-Views regarding dictatorships
-Greek government
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
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Professionals
(rev. Oct-06)
-Views of “the System” [political and social leanings]
-Doctors, lawyers, businessmen
-Press, writers and teachers
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-1960 election
-Peter Lisagor's article
-Circulation
-Kennedy
-Press
-Kenneth W. Clawson's views
-Washington Post
-John A. Scali's views
-Speeches
-Foreign policy
-Herbert G. Klein
-Clawson
-Professionals
-Ministers, teachers
-Colson’s view
-Catholics
-Protestants
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
Criticisms of the President
-Motivations
-Press
-Law schools
-Teaching
-Colson’s experience
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 43s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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(rev. Oct-06)
Colson left at 5:00 pm.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.