President Nixon met with special counsel Charles Colson to discuss sensitive political strategy and potential damage control efforts regarding the ongoing investigation into the Watergate break-in. The pair explored tactics to manage public perception and insulate the administration from fallout during the 1972 election cycle. Their discussion focused on assessing the vulnerabilities of the White House position and coordinating countermeasures to limit political damage.
On July 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:58 pm to 11:11 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 757-023 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 757-23 Date: July 31, 1972 Time: 10:58 pm - 11:11 pm Location: Oval Office The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [See Conversation No. 28-25; one item has been withdrawn]
No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.