Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 833 › Conversation 833-004

Nixon & Colson on Edward Bennett Williams and Political strategy

Thursday, January 4, 1973 · 8:46 AM–8:50 AM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation833-004 on Tape 833StartThursday, January 4, 1973 at 8:46 AMEndThursday, January 4, 1973 at 8:50 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 833-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss efforts to cultivate a relationship with attorney Edward Bennett Williams, emphasizing the necessity of discretion and indirect communication. Nixon expresses his desire to maintain a positive rapport with Williams despite potential political tensions and public scrutiny. The discussion centers on leveraging Williams's influence and connections while ensuring his involvement remains confidential.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I had a call on Bennett Williams.
I thought you should know.
I had to go through a very curious route.
Bennett Williams was writing me a letter, and I got this particular warm note thanking me for my support of the Red Sands.
And he said, I wish you a very warm hand and a very happy and successful New Year and all that sort of thing.
The point of the matter is that whatever
very tough very tough to say you know what i mean
So forth and so on.
Now, we have a little fewer cooperation because we're going to play this way.
You know, there's nobody that can play a better than the president.
I think that there are other items that he may be interested in.
Look, after all, he knows who we are.
He knows Texas.
He knows a lot of other things.
He has interest in the world of residents.
He does not want to be announced.
The post, I just put a code for you.
We understand you represent the post.
And this is probably not very prominent sometimes.
You know, we all have our plans.
You got that right?
I believe in that.
That's what's
Well, we don't do a lot of pay to hire.
We represent the folks, but when the guy gets into the political thing and gets into these personal attacks and all the rest of it,
I'd rather just say the president has known him for many years.
In fact, McCarthy had great respect for him.
And I frankly was rather hurt by the fact that he did wonder what the hell it was up to.
See?
I know it, but as I said, he just started to get rather puzzled.
I said, I can't believe he'd have any part in such a thing.
He could represent a clan.
That's one thing.
Okay, you see, okay.

NARA Description

On January 4, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:46 am and 8:50 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 833-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 833-4

Date: January 4, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:46 am and 8:50 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 35-80]
                                               -3-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                         Conversation No. 833-21 (cont’d)

Also recorded on January 4, 1973

  • 035-080 8:46 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 8:46 am to 8:50 am.
  • 035-081 8:50 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:50 am and 8:53 am.
  • 833-005 8:50 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 am and 8:53 am.
  • 833-006 8:50 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 am and 8:53 am.
  • 035-082 8:53 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 8:53 am to 8:55 am.
  • 833-007 8:53 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:53 am and 8:55 am.
  • 833-008 8:53 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:53 am and 9:03 am.
  • 035-083 8:55 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:03 am.

All 47 conversations from January 4, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 833-004, January 4, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/833-004 (accessed October 12, 2026).