Nixon, Colson & Finch on 1972 Election Results and Vote Percentages

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NixonSo, I opened it. It worked able to get back, uh, well we started right I would go back. Another hour, I had it. Did it ever work?

NixonWell, it's running just under 61. It's not 61 yet. Yes it will, though.

Colson60.78%.

NixonThe total,

Colsonthe total vote is forty-seven million,

Nixonuh 60-

Colson736,000.

NixonWhat is the vote uh you've got left to count?

ColsonForty-five million-

NixonForty-five million four thirty-two.

ColsonTwenty-eight million four thirty-six.

Nixon21,200,000.

ColsonWell, that's- that's sensational.

NixonWell, you see, the total the majority is the biggest well it's what is the majority now?

ColsonIt's almost exactly seventeen million.

NixonSeventeen million.

ColsonWhat did Goldwater have?

NixonGoldwater's forty-three something.

ColsonForty-three point seven?

NixonGoldwater had uh

ColsonGoldwater had sixty

NixonOh yeah, of course.

ColsonOh, no. Goldwater had forty-three-

NixonNo, Johnson had sixty-one.

ColsonGoldwater had thirty-eight something.

NixonYeah, Goldwater, thirty-eight point five.

ColsonThirty-eight point five.

NixonYeah.

ColsonSo we're sixteen million over Goldwater.

NixonWhat did our-

ColsonOur majority is exactly seventeen million.

NixonThe majority must be seventeen million.

ColsonIt's the biggest, the biggest in the history- the biggest in American history.

NixonYes, a great vote [unintelligible]

ColsonWell, if you're the least bit intrigued,

NixonWait a minute.

Colsonpercentagewise,

Nixonyou see, whereas Johnson, they took that hardened, oh, almost the same because they started-

ColsonWhat did Johnson's percentage get to?

NixonSixty- 61.1. 61.1.

ColsonO.K. Well, 60.8. So we got that's 1%.

NixonYeah, but what did he- what did you guys know?

ColsonGoldwater had thirty-eight point five.

NixonNine one nine.

ColsonMcGovern get thirty-seven point nine?

NixonThirty-

ColsonThirty-eight.

NixonThirty-eight point

Colsonthirty-eight point one.

NixonWell then we got them. See, the spread is what counts. Our spread is slightly bigger.

ColsonYes.

NixonIt's incredible, when you think about it.

Colson[whispering] Yes.

NixonYou see, 21.6, and ours is going to be-

Colson[whispering] Yes.

NixonWell that the 61-something percentage. Yeah.

ColsonNo, we're 38.2, he's 38-

NixonNow McGovern is 38.

ColsonMcGovern is 38% total. Our shot, our tally was 38.2

NixonThat's our, our 37.9 and so on.

ColsonStill lots of California to count.

NixonAll right.

ColsonJohn Wayne telephoned a second ago.

NixonHe did, did he? What did he have to say?

Colson[unintelligible] 99%.

NixonWhat did- what did California go?

Colson54 to 42.

NixonOh, really? It went that high?

ColsonUh-huh.

NixonMy god, after all the bullshit about California, we came within what, three points? That's great. Sure it is.

ColsonVery, very good. And it turned out to be a 55 point

Nixon55 to- what is it? 55 to-

Colsonto- well see you have to take thirty-six. You would have had a-

NixonSo, basically, basically there, it's 5- 53 to uh,

ColsonYeah, it could be a 57-43. We actually had a 14-point margin in there.

NixonAt least a 14-point margin. That's right.

ColsonThat's good.

NixonFantastic numbers. For him to take California, that's what hurts.

ColsonMassachusetts went about 45 for you and 54 for him.

NixonYeah, that's good.

ColsonThat's- And if that could be converted into peace sentiment, compared to the rest of the nation, that would be an interesting thing to knock down.

NixonThat's right.

ColsonI think all lessons through he had no wholesale

NixonNo, he had all those students. Watergate-

ColsonYeah, Watergate, uh-

Nixonvarious mistakes in Washington and that construction man took him out. He's a dirty dog.

ColsonThat is why we have-

ColsonDid I agree to make a- give an analysis later on this evening to the press?

NixonWho is this, ABC?

ColsonCBS.

NixonGreat idea. All right. Good. Wonderful. Give CBS

Colson[whispering] All right. Very good.

— 1 min 1 s with no transcribed speech —

ColsonWay it is, Mr. President,

NixonMm-hmm.

Colsonany way that you slice it, the way the numbers look, you have the biggest

NixonYeah.

Colsonpersonal victory of any presidential candidate of any of our elections.

NixonSure, sure.

ColsonLeave without a uh He's without He's without He's without doubt. First of all, it's the biggest majority

Nixonmajority

Colsonand it's the uh it's the bigger- it's the bigger percentage split.

Nixonand uh Johnson's percentage is lower [unintelligible]

ColsonTo me uh third party—

NixonThe major the the bigger margin, percentage wise and vote wise than Johnson. Good. Yeah. Well, this is true.

ColsonYou may have absolutely the percentage is bigger because the bigger percentage of the vote that has proved [unintelligible] both years you've got third-party candidates. They had almost that.

NixonYou just take the follow-up, you throw it out the hole. Well look, what would we have made this, uh, what do you call it? You would've won? You would've had what? All except

ColsonWe would've had that South down [unintelligible]

NixonConstantly with his broad rhetoric first with the, you know, civil rights, civil rights, civil rights. And they admired him. They admired [unintelligible]. And this would be the other people's fault, where it's finally come to roost.

ColsonWell, the fish, that possibly is the true [unintelligible]

Nixon[unintelligible] go back and find you the video [unintelligible]. Why did he win?

ColsonDo the rest. Sure. He got 55% of the vote. That's a solid victory. Well, I think this vote they'll look at the rear end, but it's exceptionally. You threw it away.

NixonThe needs [unintelligible] You're damn You're damn right. Great.

ColsonHe's an enormous personal triumph. In the institution and in the presidency, I'm glad to see it, for the enormous personal triumph, because he's that's the way that I I don't mean I don't want to blow up the economics of it, but look what they did built [unintelligible]

NixonThey'll be all right. The only thing they want to see this week they want to hear the speech, the speech, the speech, you see. Well, they got to do that. They always but that day is over there. Now they want them to say that I am a Republican.

ColsonNo, they didn't say that about Eisenhower. Look. Look, I did hard [unintelligible] to protect candidates that nobody ever did. Did radio tapes, I did television. He would never do such a thing. Never! Never, never!

NixonAll along they say that is better.

ColsonGoes around and shakes hand and says, "Wouldn't it be nice to see the candidate?"

NixonWell, they got what they deserve. We're not affronted. The same they did asked for, mostly. You see, this was, uh, this whole thing was a clear cut issue. It wasn't Republican.

ColsonThey don't want the Democrats. They don't want acid, beer, and sodomy. They don't want 4K things. They don't want quotas. They don't want people coming in and ruining their kids' buses. They want

NixonThey want they honored they honored, right? And what did our people offer anything they wanted? Some of them were foolish, they just wanted to, you know, look on the other side.

ColsonA lot of these assholes stand up and they won't, and take say, look at the rough, that 20 people in Strasburg.

Nixon[unintelligible] 20?

ColsonI don't know who they were. That may be [unintelligible] Dr. Gurney did that. Well, maybe he's just really getting [unintelligible] play with fire.

NixonWell, made it nice to know about that bus, bus issue. He's that guy did both those, uh—

ColsonWell, how that could have ever hurt [unintelligible] that I don't think it did.

NixonThe busing, the only one [unintelligible].

ColsonThe only candidate in 20 months [unintelligible] the buck.

NixonYeah. [unintelligible] Well, look, the fact is that the President never is done, well, he is squaring, was always the greatest shock. A tragedy, in other words. God damn it, I can't. You saw me. I gave them hell all along. I tried to say that look, look [unintelligible].

Colson[unintelligible] you, sir, the other thing is going to blow [unintelligible]

NixonWell, my life's [unintelligible]

Colsonperson [unintelligible] history book

NixonPeople throw it away in the and uh, it destroys people. It destroys human beings [unintelligible].

ColsonI wonder if they're destroying [unintelligible]. I wonder if there's any way that we can keep [unintelligible] in that way is that we whole bunch [unintelligible].

NixonNow that I got the uh Do you want to put all the mail [unintelligible] by eye. There quite a bit of stuff. [unintelligible] all these so forth. I'll I can't make the phone call today, because the schedule is packed. We have to do that tomorrow.

Colson[unintelligible]

NixonHello, Frank.

ColsonAnother thing uh There is biography of Winston Churchill in three volumes. I have the thirty volume [unintelligible] here.

NixonYeah.

ColsonI want the other volume Churchill's getting the three volume [unintelligible]

NixonFrom the Library of Congress. I want to read them this weekend. Check it out tonight. I'll get them tomorrow.

ColsonAll right. Well, actually he called about a while ago. I said well uh, he said he would call back in about two hours. [unintelligible]

NixonI don't think he's free.

NixonOkay. Just keep a look at. This way is finally, when you think of what we did, we made a conscious, deliberate decision back in September, October not to drop it, and we might have made a couple of hundred Republicans in the House, by the teeth.

ColsonRight. And they'd have never had their seats in '74, and they'd've whined for 2 years about how they were elected on the coat tail. Absolutely. We have we've elected

NixonA lot of Democrats.

Colsona modest Republican issue now, but what you now have is a major Republican [unintelligible] on every issue. Brand new. They've not found a deal with us, because

Nixonhis election tonight, that's what's gonna happen.

ColsonNow, they got they're gonna build with a peaceful with a push toward [unintelligible] taxes, [unintelligible] serious

NixonThat's why when I lie is they love Congress. [unintelligible]

ColsonThey got 6% of the vote in the state of Utah. [unintelligible] hour. In Oregon, which ended up 53-42, which is not bad,

NixonHm.

Colsongoddam American Independents got 5% of the vote, 46,000 votes, Oregon. Now, in California they got 227,000 votes.

NixonNo.

Colson205,000, excuse me.

NixonSeveral percent still left.

ColsonYeah, Schmitz got about 3%. Schmitz got 130,000.

NixonTook 1.4 million in California, 1.4 or something.

ColsonThat's a bigger one, sir.

NixonYeah.

Nixontook all.

ColsonHe did, yeah.

NixonBullshit.

ColsonThey push on the side, they look at what happened in the Senate, what happened in the House, and look at the Democratic, [unintelligible]

NixonOh, Jesus.

ColsonSee, fighting across the country, too. Yeah. Exactly where people were supported.

NixonWon Indiana by 600,000.

ColsonDid you really? People,

NixonYeah.

Colsonmore than half a million.

NixonMore. Almost 80% of the vote. More. Test? You have your troopier.

ColsonHalf of [unintelligible] They're ripe for the taking. It's because we have an executive officer. That's, that's exactly right.

ColsonYou know, Michigan came out very well. It's 56.31. That's right.

NixonPretty damn [unintelligible] busing, wasn't it?

ColsonBetter than their own.

NixonI didn't hear [unintelligible] there. I think, unless we get better missions,

ColsonOh, busing. Right, right.

NixonProbably could get all of them. I'm telling you, they're the best way to vote it.

ColsonThey did terribly on dirty politics.

NixonIs there some way that we can have this analyzed, so the party people understand where we did cut through, Chuck?

ColsonYes.

NixonWe're bound to go back to the old party hack stuff if we don't watch it. If the person has to go back, we have, in every area that somebody's curtsying,

ColsonYeah.

Nixonmaybe an eternal couple of votes, [unintelligible] department there, but, but they certainly did, not because of the Republican Party, just let's face it. I had to pull that whole week out that, that the last one.

ColsonI don't think Chafee was good in the sense of Republican in that area, though. I just don't think it'll work.

NixonWhy?

ColsonWell, because of the combination with Brooke and Brademas, the Chafee of the world.

NixonWell, let them draw some [unintelligible] Right. Okay, we got that.

ColsonI don't think Brooke did well. Yeah. Who's running with the Brooke ticket, 1968,

NixonJohn Connelly.

Colsonwas?

NixonWhere did everybody go wrong? He's still a, he's a very good speaker.

ColsonHe's no longer the boss, and they said he's brave and wonderful. Boston's

NixonSure.

ColsonI had him come over in, uh, 10 minutes, please.

NixonMust be a pretty split, eh? That really is a tremendous one, isn't it?

ColsonReminded me of the things in the the era of business [unintelligible]

NixonYeah.

ColsonWhen you use the word. So-called Massachusetts liberal is becoming more and more and more represented as the obvious minority. It's becoming tense every election. Look at Boston Harbor. It just blew the hell out of the Democrats. Hell,

Nixon[unintelligible]

Colsonyou look at what they took him for. And I was, when I was for him, he ran better.

NixonThey were having rallies.

ColsonYeah.

NixonThat security,

Colsonthe cheers for him in town,

NixonCrazy.

Colsonwas crazy.

NixonYeah.

ColsonThere were different, next to decency, home, family, everything you did and honored them. When I mentioned Chafee in the town, I think the people won't that, that's why I would rally around him. Look, there's a problem with this crowd.

NixonYeah.

ColsonLook, there's something wrong with this crowd.

NixonWell, the fine thing, now, Chafee is a purposeful, absolutely purposeful,

ColsonYeah.

Nixonsound liberal candidate for election.

ColsonYeah, and they took care of him.

NixonWell, you'll probably like to hear my sob-sister say, "Well, look how well Case did. Look how well Brooke did. Look how well Percy did." That's the way they'd build it. They're hacks.

ColsonI shouldn't say it, but they go personal. Case got 70. Yeah, they've got their personal things. And kind of,

NixonYeah.

Colsonboth of those. But it's part of the majority. Drive the other way. Drive-

NixonWhat did you say?

ColsonThat's right, that we're not going to worry another 50 days, just drive as hard as we did in early part of the year. Huh?

NixonHello?

OperatorYes, sir.

NixonBob here?

OperatorHe's not here, he just went to his office, but he's coming back.

NixonCan you tell him I'd prefer, before he does anything else, that he call me?

OperatorCertainly.

NixonHere.

ColsonShould I call?

NixonOh, no, you don't need to.

ColsonNo, I'll bet you we have the, a really, a rather keen story. I just hope the secret is in that stuff I sprayed with them. Didn't see, nobody's graphics.

NixonDidn't see, that's great.

ColsonOf course. It's fine if they don't, you see. If Brother Nixon had a slide, could I give him some some good stories? Good news. What what do we do about this thing?

NixonHuh? We'll see how that turns out. How that's structured.

ColsonYou know, you get, you have the day off to, uh,

NixonYeah, then I, I'm really hurting from the,

Colsonreach about 3/4. Make those, make those capable people look at party machine,

NixonRight.

Colsonthe art of the cat. That would, that would be very good. For the next 30 days everything you do would be fine. Yeah.

NixonThe only thing I hope is they're working instead of scratching their heads, you know?

ColsonThere's Richard Nixon. And on the national ballot, with 20,000,000, 25,000,000 votes, and he has a majority of 61%, 62%.

NixonSpectacular figures. In all foreign states, huh?

ColsonWon the biggest number of states. That's true. Found the biggest number of votes. Right. And the biggest percentage majority.

NixonPercentage is 61%?

ColsonOne of the biggest in history, 61.4, right now.

NixonWhat is it, a percentage? That's about the majority, is 61?

ColsonPercentage of the vote: 61.4.

NixonI, I don't think anyone knows why McGovern's 38.

ColsonWhy, McGovern's 38?

NixonHe's so close to 61.

ColsonWell, the they buy McGovern at 38, and all the savings, so

NixonDraw a line at 48 to 38. That means a win of 23%.

ColsonJust.

NixonAnd, of course, locally, we're talking about, we did better than Johnson, in that we captured more states than Johnson.

ColsonThat's right, and his world turned out

NixonRight. And another thing: Our's which rules out anything else, that he had had a tragedy.

ColsonThat's the whole key. Democratic party succession starts with that. Correct. The basic essence is zero, gotta be it.

NixonAnd God knows, the surge, the suburban vote, the blue-collar, the the Asians, the Catholics,

Colsonall the the voters in the country, the blacks, Jewish, Hispanic voters,

NixonYeah.

Colsonand this is what mattered. Jesus, this went right in. And everybody's going to say, and they began this, they're all over that. And and stagger the device, and to stop it. And look, I got a waterfall

NixonTook 100 days. The Democratic leaders, all they need, look at their answers, sir.

ColsonNow that they saw her now.

NixonThere is very thoughtful.

ColsonYeah.

NixonGeorge McGovern has hit whatever.

ColsonYeah.

NixonIt's got the direction sometimes, in such a, well, it's very good.

ColsonYeah.

NixonA few of them, they're they're saying that your personal success, and the the institution that you work,

ColsonYeah.

Nixonas long as we keep peace through strength, which we're sure to do, nothing can happen.

ColsonThat's the problem there, of course, is you don't have the Roosevelt.

NixonRoosevelt had Congress in a landslide in '36 and they fight the New Deal and packed, they wouldn't. True? Uh, didn't help him that he had Congress. Question is whether he stopped the Congress. Look what we've been fighting, not in their Congress

Colsonfor four years. In fact for four hundred and forty days, Mr. President.

NixonThe whole bunch.

ColsonWe held them with ninety sixty-four in the House.

NixonYeah, and this could turn, what I call the bully pulpit. The pulpit, the problem that the people will look at. Not only that, you've got changes in Congress, plus then what do you They're going to have their own internal crisis in the jury in the House, you know? Now in Hell if they ever overrun this decade.

ColsonToday, speaking of the House, that has been our, that's what, that's what kept us afloat through all these terrible. The line, it may be eight or five or whatever. Maybe in that game of thirteen, it could be that high, Mr. For them, it may be.

NixonThe rest of the head. I'm afraid our numbers may be closer to seven to ten.

ColsonI think the House is not one, John. I lay it, the George steps up from under the [unintelligible] or the, they're not in the twelve?

NixonYes, yes. Oh candidate. Each candidate scrupled.

ColsonOne ninety scrupled to 177. So, that's thirteen. So, that's seventy-three. Turn over.

NixonThey remember it for four years.

ColsonI suppose our first move now, with Teddy Kennedy now, as far as you said, well, and play that. Now, that's our great hope, you see. If they can they really come back, you can't come back like that.

NixonNo, I gave one thing. One thing I said: to my utter amazement, Kennedy didn't refer to the Chrysler crowd. In his wired, he sent a rather responsive striking wire, which said to appreciate your courageous wire, and I forward to working together with him for the cause of peace in the world. And I did not send, what I did, Chuck, I sent on the uh, next night, an expression of appreciation

NixonThey get mad, huh?

ColsonThey're mad because they count it, they don't deserve it. They, I'm not going to suck around that crowd, and it's good, it's good, smart business. I think it's so rotten to suck around with them. They hated you for, for the you didn't. 61% of the Americans. Expressing that confidence.

Colson[unintelligible] Oh, that's okay, because they had [unintelligible]

NixonDon't return the calls now. Don't waste your time.

ColsonNo, I don't intend to.

NixonAt that, but it's time now that I'm back. Let me do the talking. See now

Colson[unintelligible] You caught up?

NixonYeah. It's unbelievable. I didn't think it would be little better than this, they,

ColsonWell, it's it's well, all of us did. I kept saying it here and kept telling you there and

NixonWell, you have steady, that's sure.

ColsonAnd when they started to seem like all our momentum had gone, it was because they had us on the peace issue, and look, the worry is that the peace issue had except in

NixonMassachu- Massachusetts.

ColsonIt had had no Why, hell, peace is why we lost Massachusetts.

NixonYeah. That's for sure. They were just that [unintelligible]

ColsonThey were that They were that sick, they really were.

NixonWell, Colson, why we lost Massachusetts, had had 62 or 64 without them, could've had them all, almost. Fine. God damn, I could cry. What did they have [unintelligible]

ColsonMaybe it's well we lost one, Mr. President.

NixonI don't think it would've been good. I always think good schoolboy athletics [unintelligible]

ColsonNow that the prove that uh that uh that everybody went along with you.

BullPardon, sir. I don't know who has the White House operator gone. I'm having a hard time talking to you. You can listen on there if you want. I'm having a hard time talking

NixonJust a minute. Chuck. Chuck, wait here a minute. Just a second. [unintelligible] I don't believe you saw the Washington Post. Page five that

Nixonfinally, it's turning out, first, accurate, despite the fact that the big majority, by how much they are now,

ColsonYeah, Goldwater.

Nixongot more popular, but it's more in the country. It's the biggest in popular vote in history, the biggest majority in history. Ha! It's percentage, it's slightly bigger than Johnson's percentage spread.

ColsonUh-huh.

NixonActually, Johnson's percentage was 61.1, ours is 61.7. Johnson didn't have that son-of-a-bitch Schmitz. You see that Schmitz, Chuck. I just looked at here with figures.

ColsonRight.

NixonThat son-of-a-bitch took 227,000 votes in California.

ColsonGood million. That's a good million nationally.

NixonA million 26,000. For example, now listen to this. In Utah, you know that he took 6% in Utah?

ColsonThe Birchers.

NixonHe took 4% in the state of Washington.

ColsonYeah.

NixonIncidentally, Wisconsin had, you know, we always worried about why Wisconsin would be 44. But that son-of-a-bitch Bircher got 2%.

ColsonSee, that's where the difference is.

NixonYeah, and that would have been that would have been that that would have the 56-42. I'm sure of that.

ColsonYeah.

NixonHere's another one. Montana, the son-of-a-bitch got 4%.

ColsonI know that.

NixonWell yeah, it's the reason Idaho got 4. I always would get high up, 4%. Idaho 7%.

ColsonThe extreme right, the far-right there, very strong. Yeah. He's can claim he gave us a good run. That's for damn sure.

Nixon[unintelligible]

ColsonWell, I have another conviction, well, when you come to think about it, we were talking to Jarvis.

NixonYeah.

Colsonthe peace issue worked back, but it probably cost us uh the only state that the the peace aberration really worked in was Massachusetts.

NixonMassachusetts.

ColsonProbably cost us Massachusetts.

NixonThat cost probably some votes in Washington.

ColsonA lot of them. That's But nevertheless, and the peace issue might have cost us 1% across the country. But on the other hand,

NixonI just say what the hell difference does it make? You can't match '61 anyway.

ColsonWell, the thing I abhor the feeling about the whole thing we're gonna have problems. I spent all night thinking about this myself. Just satisfying, isn't it? Isn't it? Where the hell were you last night after the television thing?

NixonDownstairs. I came back over here to get to the make calls I had to make. [unintelligible] talk to John.

ColsonIt's incredible. Unbelievable. Always will be unbelievable. It's the, it's the Shappies. You can't win. It's unbelievable. My mind is gone.

NixonThat's what's that's good. Yeah. Now, the other the other the other one I've looked is uh Nelson. Have you ever seen Ralph Nelson [unintelligible] I don't believe the TV guy. [unintelligible] That shows the spark. He was a guy who won in '60, won in '64, won in '68 and I blocked him every time. Well, not bad, man. You know, they almost tried that again this time. They tried like hell. Every, all of us that stayed in.

ColsonThey were I took a greater, greater personal satisfaction. I took it really with one call, my friend, because that stopped it.

NixonWell, that truly did. That would've been That would've set off a bloody, bloody mess. Delaware was just a disaster. Delaware, really. Delaware was so good.

ColsonSorry about that, though. Now, goddamn it. Is that being the only one? When I was up When I was there and I spoke, why, they seemed also mad on Turkey and you know, I first did pretty good today. Very candid with us. Right. You see they were so great and candid about that. Yeah. But the trouble with this ring is is that it's organized pure and pure, better and better.

NixonHe spent more money. We're going to have to wait for 6 years to get 'em back. More money and how could you lose six, how could you lose in a sweep?

ColsonWell, and that hurts us. Uh, uh Why? Why? Why? What's that? Uh, the registration. Democrats were up 400. That's, uh, what else?

NixonThat grassroots were great, except one family did well and there, but these people, I hired, I even had a picture taken to try to crack the, you know.

ColsonI really think Campbell that while Sandy had 500 [unintelligible] Delaware We got half one Delaware, it's strong. Oh, Delaware. What's that?

NixonYeah, Broadbent's. Washington. Uh, the right screw. Across the board. 507, 508. But, go down to Raleigh. And the said my car blew it. And I don't know, maybe Uh, you know another thing, by the Uh, the other thing I'm going to say for her, First Wilson. Wilson.

ColsonWilson. You've got to say on her mind. Yeah.

NixonI gotta get I'd like to get Scali back on the network, have him as the White House network. Well, that's that's the name of the game. Now, whether Scali will go back, you know, he wants 22nd century. If he goes back on the network, we will give him a direct channel to this White House. [unintelligible] he can have good access to anything. You get him a deal, and, well, he'll have himself looking good. I got it. It's always [unintelligible]

ColsonThey were for They were for Dorgan. That, uh, Howard K. Smith Yeah. But they got laid they got my nuts where their boss has done fair. Oh, no. Hell, with ABC that that's The Washington Post. The only, Bradlee. I know about this. It is it tightens and it probably already leaks. That's the paper.

NixonThat paper, they're they're morning.

ColsonYeah. Big problem, of course, isn't it? They're going to be after you now for They know it's a huge personal triumph. It was a triumph for your shine through anything else. First, you know, the party they all know I know they can they ask me about the party. People sit and kiss my ass. I'm never going to get up.

NixonAll right, take this. You're very great. Why? You wanted to make it. Right. Well, that's that has to be a fine. It just has to be a fine. Now, the thing is John Connally.

ColsonGod damn it. Fine fellow. Well, but I will talk about that later. But, yeah, can I ask you then about Wilson? Can we get Wilson out or resign or should we just get him, kill, kick him out of that job?

NixonI think can't stand him. We can't stand him. I'd almost rather have a candidate here. I would fight for anybody. Dick Maguire, Mike Mansfield, anybody. You mean a bigger, bigger [unintelligible] He's no good, is he? No, he's no good.

ColsonThe first week that we talked to him, yes, he knew, that's shit.

NixonAnd, what we did now is I I'm sorry to waste time. You know what happened in 1971? In 1971, for promotions, I had gone both recount meetings, spent 11 billion dollars. 11, I follow the updates for a question. I said, look, wrap it up. 11 billion dollars, and that's pissed on a whole [unintelligible] We gotta stop that.

ColsonNow first follow that they had the guys here to dump them back home and we can tell them here, but I didn't want to go that far. The words to my get through, want more business then. Really, they're dead. 50 organizations. We're publishing. I had attorney over for research. It's their head. That, that, isn't it? We got him in for one hour.

NixonCall somebody. How's the constituency? What the else has been a constant struggle, though? 100 goes back to 60. First time I've been elected. Hell with them. Now, this this the rest is yeah. Was, you're not going to Remember the talk we had with Kramer told me. When I said, ready, maybe I won't eat. Remember that? Yeah.

ColsonOh, my god. Oh, I was most convinced. He's no good. He don't give a damn. I do, a great national chair, both eyes. That's right. And being the Republican party attorney party. I've gotta go now. Yes. Did the incident change his name?

NixonWhat's her name? His name is March. Where's he from? Can't say I would've thought.

ColsonHe's out to Houston.

NixonWell, let me start by, we've got a certain situation. You going to take off early, go to Cabo?

ColsonNo, I'm I'm going to be here with them tomorrow and then fly out. I haven't seen them yet. What's bad for this? Tomorrow night. You know the greatest pleasure about this? It's gone pretty good.

NixonI think about Tricia. Julie's good. David is gone to Harvard. Eddie. That would never, never create another part of that that I live in. With my name, my team has or that the It's not fair. It was few that afford it, but we can howl that way. [unintelligible] They always had someone.

NixonThe only thing I would hesitate, and I want an older name. That will be one. Because that will be one change that will be, I think, just about as dramatic as you could see.

NixonGeneral election, general election.

ColsonHe's a labor man, Secretary.

NixonA labor union leader. It's got to be done. They deserve that, John. You're just trying to put a businessman in as Secretary of Commerce?

ColsonHalf and half both.

NixonLike Hodge. I've tried. But they're not going to be able, but it's got to be somebody who can all agree on, Colson. It has to be a real, smart, sharp guy. I don't mean Brennan.

ColsonIt's got to be somebody not that Georgine or Brennan or-- Well, Street. Hill Street can agree on the man, they got to screw everyone.

NixonWell, who would it be, God help us?

ColsonFitzsimmons would want Fitzsimmons would want Fitz, but he's got to be Fitzsimmons worker because that's the part that--

NixonIt could be a-- I know Fitz, after everything that Fitzsimmons has done, could it be could it be Hoffa?

ColsonOh, Hoffa fights Fitz. Fitz is he is the assistant, the assistant.

NixonWould he do it?

ColsonI think we could do it. I think Fitz Fitz, we're we indicted him, and he was found innocent, and he was found not guilty. I'm afraid that he's a going on this, but--

NixonWell, Fitz is not a But he's the most he's the most polished labor leader there is in the area. Now, he is really quite smart, isn't he?

ColsonThe problem with Fitz

NixonNo one is smarter than Meaney, remember that. But Hoffa is a well-educated man.

ColsonMeaney is the best. The real clever, monster politician.

NixonMeaney's tough, though.

ColsonYeah.

NixonHe's got brains, real brains.

ColsonOkay, I'm speaking. All these people will get it. I'm seeing another newspaper this afternoon by invitation. Cut the shit-- [laughter] I beg your pardon.

NixonThe Worker's PC?

ColsonGod, I hate newspapers.

NixonWant to talk with you about I think you've got to decide, I think,

Nixonwhat are you going to do, Governor, Senator? Chuck, you want you want to?

ColsonI I think I don't.

NixonI hope not, but, but, I think you've got to decide because my friends, mobilization will be absolutely [unintelligible]

ColsonThey insist. I mean, the I think you probably you're smarter about people and more knowledgeable about human nature than practically anybody I know. Correct?

NixonMake sure.

ColsonMake sure that we protect you.

NixonYeah.

ColsonYeah. You, with life aside,

NixonHe's not another Eugene McCarthy.

ColsonI know that actually he's tough as well as taller because he listens, we should, on the issue, as well. So there we are. But tell me this for a kick in the pants, if you go for governor, hell, the logic is grand, you've got to go after

NixonMm-hmm.

ColsonAnyway, I told you you'd get Alabama. Everybody thinks like a problem, so I get that Alabama again, baby, we owe to 30%. But, actually you see,

NixonIt would've had the whole show.

ColsonUnder the whole, the whole leadership.

NixonIt's cross-

ColsonIt's tough. And to say that you didn't win. I look at this race and Reagan, he won by 13 points, a mere plurality.

NixonYeah.

ColsonWin a plurality. He's fired up.

NixonYeah.

ColsonFolks talk about soon as they get that all the gates open. Yeah.

NixonYeah. You probably didn't want it, by that turn out.

Colson36-6, oh, I won't even try out. [laughter] You were sure that it's all heart, they were that's fact.

NixonExcuse us, Chuck, we got to take care of a little business. Would you like a beverage? Want some beer?

ColsonI'd like some, uh, beef broth, beef broth, today. Coffee, yeah.

SanchezHello?

BullYes sir.

SanchezYes sir, would you send one coffee with milk and the rest black?

BullOkay.

ColsonI think if press is going to have to know every detail about that.

NixonYeah. Well, they tell me they tell me every time

ColsonSo, what'd you have for dinner? Diet?

NixonYes.

ColsonThe next is to take it, to cure like to take a drink, you know. Diet. What's what's what?

NixonOur friends, I don't give a damn, who won. But not McCarthy, anybody like that is out.

ColsonBull.

NixonIt's very,

ColsonOur people are happy. Bullshit.

NixonYeah.

ColsonAll right, well then, what can we do about Dwight? Mr. Mayor?

ColsonI'm gonna see him today. He had called at some point yesterday.

NixonListen, now did he know that that finally sent, I don't know, I don't. But I don't want to fight to say, but I would think you'd just call and say, well, thanks for the help the last few days, because of how it went.

ColsonYeah.

NixonGod damn.

ColsonAre are our people who call are pleased about the election, ah, yes,

Colsonif they're just ecstatic. Um,

NixonThis damn shit [unintelligible] First half,

ColsonWell, sir, every idea is important.

ColsonTremendous.

ColsonLet me say this. First, you, you and California, we had plenty of rain.

ColsonThe race took quite a weather up to now, as far as that's concerned. Really, John, it hasn't got that to do. For example, I go to Greece just for pleasure.

ColsonGod, who was the nice man that got killed HR1 portion with our message. He's called an 8 karat bastard. Said we can't follow that.

ColsonSon of a bitch, I can't come up with what the hell was in the bill. Is he just that dumb or what? What in the name of God, every day.

NixonWell, the other one is out, Senator [unintelligible]

ColsonAll right, they, we,

NixonLet me be quite candid.

ColsonI know how we're jammed up. Don't, don't root, don't rule out Connally.

ColsonWait. Now this, but this is, you understand, why We're not gonna prevent it. Drinking will not be pleasant. And it's going to be, well, hang it.

ColsonWell, it would be the same, but if you had Dwight, well that's all. If you had an open choice, it'd hang in the balance, all right, fine. But, see they think, in fact you'd start off with five percent [unintelligible]

NixonWell, you've got to hold them.

ColsonSome of them are very canny about this and, so, frankly, this is what he's not gonna understand. He's got a whole array against him. He showed up tonight, built back in the real African portion [unintelligible]

ColsonIt's too shit.

NixonNow these devils,

ColsonI believe, this flight was insane.

NixonThat's true.

ColsonOh, shit. In case, warm policy we had given to him.

NixonWhat the hell was in that for, you know, 400 who signed? Good stuff. That's good stuff.

ColsonAnd that gives a person turning for lunch, I do.

NixonGive a lot of people ways to

Unknown[unintelligible]

ColsonThey are strong. Now what what are your personal thinking? Personal thinking is the governor.

NixonThe name?

ColsonNow, if you can't wait tomorrow, sir, [unintelligible] to put this critical mass together. That's why he's eager to beat with him, but he came up with the plan.

NixonAll right.

ColsonYes, sir. Good. And is that Jimmy Carter's group? Can I borrow him as a pastor?

NixonCarter, Maddox, uh, Byrd, [unintelligible] the new power, the 30th. They make They They have They They sponsor trust street here. They generally [unintelligible] Democrats would like whole bench lying great. Now, you got you listen They're going to screw us.

ColsonRight.

NixonGot to use you to try and tell him who hits the widest state.

ColsonYes, sir.

NixonYou take charge of that. And you sit down, take the bulls and stretch this situation to long pure old state without without

ColsonAnd if there's any hope with Flynn, Shriver says they can stick him into the lands trust, and that's [unintelligible]

NixonNow that's a fuck of time.

ColsonNo, that's one possibility. The other is this fellow the Governor, and that'll compel us to waste more energy. The other is to double our effort one way or the other. We'd like to get Byrd on our We'd like Byrd Byrd gets along with Byrd gets along with Ford, I'm told.

NixonYeah. What if Byrd could get what if Byrd could get Barnes who's head of the Washington [unintelligible] Actually,

NixonYeah, that funny is hilarious, no best, of course, to get along. We got a roll. We gotta rock it. There's understood this is somebody else and we had an understanding we have [unintelligible]

ColsonYeah.

ColsonBut got to keep rolling this thing. We cannot let up. You keep these people from having another one, because the party is just gone. Now, the critical thing as to who leads the Party. Texas Texas is to show How's Connally alright? Let's go. I doubted because

ColsonI I get the mail that they're party line sure enough, it's true, but I want to the best uh, I'd like to go with Jordan, because that's what his power is. Shriver says the first candidate, that's who I took.

NixonListen, if I could bid that, Texas. Yeah, he can turn. I'd be in by 50 to 37. Right? A week, I think it's strong. Oh, you have to [unintelligible]

ColsonYes, sir. I have that.

ColsonHere's one, Really the whole country's favorite teacher. That really wasn't What thought? That's not the case. The Democrats are so divided. We've got plenty of other reasons they're off, Mahoney, Wally,

NixonYeah.

ColsonJerry Rafshoon here, uh and then all of them walked around.

NixonDid you this Democratic stuff and all of the damn sessions, essentially a Democratic state and yet California as uh leader.

ColsonIt's incredible that our country is thirty years into duty for the other candidate. What else?

NixonThe other guy got like 10.

ColsonIt's uh It's gonna be a straight fight name against you, with the majority coming from the party's best. With half the votes it's like [unintelligible]

Nixon98% in the rector, Howard. Just,

ColsonNo, they're not with McGovern. They never have been. Got to go through that problem, though.

NixonYes.

ColsonWhen you're all right, you got to just talk with your school.

NixonThat's justified. Like, the hospital served me well, but all [unintelligible] I planned my sisters in a dark, [unintelligible]

ColsonYeah, I wonder if [unintelligible] were worth all that you've got these days.

NixonI like I like to consider for free, really. I have all the liberty, my weight. My followers are going. It had to be another country. We can go for God or we can go for war here.

ColsonRight. Right.

NixonGotta be in the In a cup couple is empty. You remember who this for? Well, that's not for a [unintelligible]

ColsonAll right.

NixonYeah. What for to be? What if uh, well,

ColsonI know. This building

Nixonthat's that's what, you know, we would sort out. How gotta get her on.

ColsonNo, instead, I've already elected

ColsonAll right.

NixonCall you mine.

Colsonserved.

NixonWhy shouldn't they rocky and cold right now, sir?

ColsonHold the breath. You're bold, by the camera. Takes a [unintelligible]

ColsonI didn't say, I couldn't be that. In fact, that's where, that's what I mean. He's really He's really did it at sixty-eight, hell, a different system.

ColsonCertainly, uh For instance, we did so well, after all I had supposed to Carter would buy, but just about seventy four right. That's, uh, quite a chick.

NixonUh, I I I know who's to blame and I I wouldn't know the other. My only wish to know: don't fill too much around the shoes and all those. The way they're they're

ColsonCoast to Coast. Go for the go for the Catholics.

NixonThat's where he threw it off.

ColsonYeah. Built it around that.

NixonConstruct some obstacles, you mean?

ColsonYeah. Out there [crosstalk] see the--

Nixontook this proposition.

ColsonGod, took your advice. Talked it all that way, you know, and knocked, knocked it out. The United, the way it worded it, was great stuff because he threw out to check the capital punishment.

NixonWell, I figured that it was taking completely the other line.

ColsonHuh?

NixonDo you mind?

ColsonNo, marijuana too, of course, took a beating.

NixonA study center, wasn't it? Sure.

ColsonBusing.

NixonWhich one?

ColsonIt's a

NixonIt's a great beating.

ColsonVerse

NixonI know how the media will go, though.

ColsonGoing to park, listen.

NixonWell, let's take a look. There's the other side.

ColsonWell, by next year, it's about 81%.

NixonOh, it's frightening. I love under the circumstances.

ColsonThe, the fact that, moderation nation, in a single day, said this question, see, I senator or whatever. Well, that that's that white,

NixonYeah.

Colsoncall the alien flag.

NixonYeah.

Colsonthat is. Is it that the Rogers and all that fly lesson? That's what I kept in mind.

NixonUh-huh.

ColsonI gotta remind you, that's falling down a line. That's, you know, it's gonna be much worse by the labor yards. I don't see the members, some of them are too damn polite,

NixonUh-huh.

Colsondown the line. I thought, whether there's gonna be a council total of about 30 people [crosstalk] over there tomorrow. No.

NixonDid I express it?

ColsonYes.

NixonThe [unintelligible]

ColsonIt's basic.

NixonIt's frankly that that that's worse. I've spent plenty of my other place, if she stayed in that transform,

ColsonThat's him.

Nixonthen, my lovely [unintelligible] that's his game. My idea is they did a whole week to the national touring.

ColsonCabinet served its whole work with assholes, and they have pretty big big yeses [crosstalk] through the day.

NixonHe's just talking. Have they talked

ColsonWe've come so far. They don't care at all. You ought to talk to each of them, individually.

NixonWell, I will, individually.

Colson[cough]

NixonHello?

NixonOh, Mr. Prime Minister, nice to hear from you.

NixonWell, thank you very much. I

NixonWell, it's, you know, under our system if if if I were in Britain, I'd be out of office,

Colson[chuckle]

Nixonbecause we didn't get the House and Senate, which we didn't expect to. But we had a very solid majority power, and I think we can do some things more effectively [crosstalk] country and the world.

Colson[cough]

NixonLet me say too that I have noted with interest your moving on the wage and price controls model, and wish you the very best of luck. It's a it's a tough, it's a battle. How is how is it being accepted so far?

NixonBy the public?

Nixon70?

NixonGreat. Great.

NixonWell, that's what we found here. We found as a matter of fact unions, the whole shit,

Colson[cough]

Nixonbut on the, that the other, that's the, but the poll being after if if you yell on the press they are they're like 65 to 70%, then they have to take it. It's always so.

NixonWell, I I certainly, I certainly uh send, wish you well. I I'm gonna have to take some time now to get things in order here in the move the administration,

Colson[cough]

Nixonand uh, but I hope that at one time we can get together and have a talk.

NixonWe will, we will be in, be in contact, and I uh, I do very much appreciate your call.

NixonYeah. I told Ted, that's not the best excuse I can fight for anybody. [laughter]

NixonAnd I I was also, the other day I was doing personal research [cough] in the, at another cross or somewhere so forth, I was amazed to read that you'd been married 25 years and just can't, it's hard, how the time passes.

Colson[cough]

NixonWell, it certainly is, it certainly is. Well, it's good to talk to you, and we'll look forward to seeing you before too long.

NixonOh, oh, one last thing, privately the, the, the Vietnam thing is going well. I'll just say no more. We're keeping, that, a cold hand.

NixonOf course, we want them to sign, but I'm sending Haig to Saigon today.

NixonYeah, for one hand, and the other, and so there is, we cannot expect it in about a week. But it's coming along very well.

NixonThank you, thank you.

NixonBye.

ColsonYou know, it is kind of weird if you could imagine, as the enormous impact for any days. It's incredible. Why, say,

NixonSee Johnson must crawls over this stuff.

ColsonHey, got fall down. After the first conversation, during the second, and then war, he handles so bad. He had to shoot the

NixonAlso he was he, he was so goddamn cocky after he won, he thought he was the only one in the world.

ColsonHe just wanted, never interfered.

NixonYou know, I told Haldeman last night, the same thing last night,

Colson[chuckle]

Nixonabout why I thought it was good that I went instead of going round with Sharp, and then people who walked, fucking,

Colson[cough]

Nixonand then went to Sharp and that's, How is each of the,

ColsonI dressed to ask each of them,

Nixonbe sorrow in that, and that's the only way, but had I walked up with Sharp like that, it's just going to carry in,

Colsonthe part, fucking that,

NixonIt might slide up,

ColsonWell, let's leave, that's what, you

NixonWell, let's leave it. There's what. You You get through the day off, and come home, and make your decision.

NixonI'll only talk to you about what your, what are you gonna want to do. We'll leave that higher than 72,

Nixonand if you decided the direction you want to look,

Nixonit's not only a compliment to call the Cabinet. They could execute, fight with each guy,

ColsonThey get all rife though. Those first coward look like. Probably harder that way.

NixonThat's where the problem is. You've got doctors, all that, a lot more than people,

ColsonPromise your control, you know.

NixonYou see that for years, but what, really it's fine. Serious [crosstalk] worked for that,

ColsonYeah, it was.

Nixonstop talking on the secondary [unintelligible] you know, that's where Steve Doug did to me.

ColsonYeah, in his lifetime.

NixonWell, Roosevelt, the facts were he kept the same old goddamn Cabinet. Fact, I haven't seen a Cabinet. I bet Roosevelt, and Harry kept art Summerfield, and George Humphrey, and all the rest that damn near broke up his last term, didn't they? Well,

Colson[cough]

ColsonOh, yes, your business, and that heavy penalty was forth that. Really wait, that's great sir, this is what you're First,

Nixonyou get this goddamn whole reform package, that'd be a short-term proposition, this book

Colson[snicker]

ColsonAll those other scenarios like the - that's right. I'm afraid that he'll say, "I must go back to California. This is rule -" I I waited out three because I didn't want him uh saying uh well, the song today that I was with him for a long period.

NixonSure.

ColsonRight.

NixonI understand, and that's why I said-

ColsonWell, you assume now, Bob, we got through it quite well, so I think you're the one that we just, but you make him an offer that he'll have to back on that. That's what you told him, and that, and the thing

NixonYou got to realize, though, he had done a great deal-

ColsonNo longer than we hope to get him in for.

NixonThat's right, but remember this:

ColsonCertainly, he's served his purpose very well indeed.

Nixonuh We couldn't really expect him to uh to do it much longer anyway. Now, wait a minute, Bob. Finally, Bob said, Bob said, "I'd like to go back to California then."

ColsonYes.

NixonAnd then the California thing broke, and he said, "Hell, I don't want to go to California, and I'd like to stay around if you want me to. I'd like to, I don't want to go back to California until next fall." So uh, but we shouldn't dip in the waters too much.

ColsonYeah. Well, maybe he can postpone it for a little while.

NixonAfter the convention, call him, because they they he hasn't been got to speak to Washington, to begin with.

ColsonThat's something he has to be got to. He has to speak to Washington. Why care? Uh he has She didn't want him to be shotgunned, though.

NixonNo, her and her her own.

ColsonNo, how about that? I guess so.

NixonWhy, hell. Christ, they've got four years. He shouldn't-

ColsonUh believe me, if it's the side of the question, whoever she thinks. But it's very important.

NixonMy patience is worn out. You want to be, you punch somebody like that, he

ColsonLike he wants something that he likes, then he turns around, wants to talk to him. Christian, the hair is sticking [unintelligible] Oh, uh-huh.

NixonWell, let's stop worrying, Bob. I've got to study it. I'm sorry, you're quite polite about it, but uh, I wish he could have told me all about that.

ColsonRight.

NixonWell, that's that's uh, we got to do something about it.

ColsonRight, you do.

NixonIn the end, that is true.

ColsonI tell Check's points better than that. Remember, your power your power is so great now, and the party is so far down.

NixonYeah, but-

ColsonIt'll severed in half. But he's got to do it in the next month. Yes, sir. Severed in half. This is, that's what Mr. Nixon did, but then, what do you think

NixonYeah.

Colsoncertainly where you've got this terrible division um, outside politics. That's good thing. That's why I applaud this division, which uh really on the-

NixonSo the only the only one who's really supported that, of course, would be the Quarterback Club and next on the line could get a job, fuck.

ColsonCorrect. The next nine, you know, that's that's where the left side, right, because the guy who's all, who's already got nine in computers, they'll clamor, and they even know they ought to get a lot more recognition in that. You got a lot of free money floating around.

NixonWell, those uh that was just-

Colsonjust call him and tell him that uh they are they are an answer to that.

NixonWell, Jesus Christ! The faults of all the White House, the faults are for everyone! The fuck! No White House has ever done anything for these people, asshole. You know, you turn it on.

ColsonHuh?

NixonCalls, the first family, the service he's paying, they're they're

ColsonThey also the press guy already did that, yeah, Jerry. Well, he made that point today. The first guy they've seen uh get into this place and back, there won't be any

NixonHe's their He's doing that pretty well, of course.

ColsonAren't you glad that I did cover the outside group, these last two weeks, Dan Beard? Uh, we gotta, uh? He's doing-

NixonWell, the point is, whether they made difference or not, if I had to that, they'd have all won.

ColsonThere wouldn't have been.

NixonRight.

ColsonWell, this is going to be a tough one, frankly. Uh, how're your folks?

NixonYeah, but this not theirs yet. I've got a good team. I'll keep them together. I believe in all of this.

ColsonWhat's Monroe been doing? Well, that's the other thing I had. I think he is definitely,

NixonYeah.

Colsonso there is.

NixonIt's really easy. Joe had run just bought his bad reason. Well, that depends on what that we can get him on here either. I would-

ColsonWhy not bring him in as your um, uh I think he's that, and he's loved. From state, he could come back and for state for rails and like that guy who gets those damned good people.

NixonYeah.

ColsonI wish he had loyal and he has he's carried the hod for you, you know, through it all. So, I-

NixonTotally, all.

ColsonI think we can get him, maybe in a sub-Cabinet or something, but I'll talk to Haldeman about it, and then we can, but Yeah.

NixonYeah. Well, I hope that indications are, all in all, when you stop to think, 40- Probably that's true, 60. And 62, 9 years ago.

Nixon, Colson & Finch on 1972 Election Results and Vote Percentages

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Nixon, Colson & Finch on 1972 Election Results and Vote Percentages

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

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Also recorded on November 8, 1972

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