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Conversation 007-083

TapeTape 7StartTuesday, August 10, 1971 at 9:28 AMEndTuesday, August 10, 1971 at 9:30 AMTape start time03:00:19Tape end time03:02:11ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discuss the media's failure to provide significant coverage of positive retail sales statistics, noting that only NBC reported on the data to provide balance to their broader economic criticism. Colson explains that the administration relied on Harold Passer to disseminate the figures and clarifies that the data reflected a revision of existing weekly reports rather than a major new development. Nixon expresses frustration over the lack of press attention, highlighting the importance of the 15% sales increase as an encouraging economic indicator.

Economic policyRetail salesMedia coverageHarold C. PasserPublic relations
AudioNARA Description

On August 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 9:28 am to 9:30 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-083 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 7-83

Date: August 10, 1971
Time: 9:28 am - 9:30 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson

[See Conversation No. 559-3B]

     News summary
         -Retail sales figures
              -Television network coverage
              -National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] coverage
              -George P. Shultz

                -Harold C. Passer
                -July
                      -Monthly compared with weekly figures
                      -Size

                                                                    Conv.
                                                                     Conversation
                                                                          No. 7-161
                                                                                  No.
                                                                                    (cont.)
                                                                                      7-84

Date: August 10, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:30 am and 2:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 559-15]

     Requested a call to John B. Connally
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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.

Hello.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Hi.
Hi, Chuck.
I was just taking a look at the news summary.
It seemed to me quite interesting how they almost totally ignored the retail sales thing, isn't it?
One network used it.
One network used it, NBC, because they had some pretty negative stuff on the...
on the economy, so I guess they thought they had to give us a little balance.
Yeah.
That was a pretty good story, though.
Did we make an effort?
Did Schultz and the bunch do something about it, or what?
No, Mr. President, we relied on Peser.
Well, he's good.
He's usually pretty upbeat.
The reason that, frankly, we made more out of it than a legitimate news story probably would warrant, because what it was basically was an updating of
A revision upward of some existing figures, most of which had come out on the weekly totals.
You know, it's like the casualties.
They come out each week, and then they do a monthly compilation.
Well, there probably wasn't much more that could be done about it.
Well, it would be nice if we had gotten a little more out of it.
It's a very good statistic, as a matter of fact.
It's a very impressive statistic, Mr. President.
15% increase in retail sales is a hell of a lot.
Well, it's the first of the year.
Yes, it is.
And the July figures that have been out each week but now will be consolidated into monthly figures show something, the same kind of a trend continuing.
Percentage-wise, it won't be quite as dramatic because once you get up at a certain level, it stays there.
But it is an encouraging story.
Right, right.
The July things will come out when?
Well, let's see.
The July weekly totals have been out, so we'll get the monthly one about a month from now.
Right, right.
Okay, fine.
Fine, sir.
Thank you.
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