Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 833 › Conversation 833-007

Nixon & Colson on Legal strategy and Professional conduct

Thursday, January 4, 1973 · 8:53 AM–8:55 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation833-007 on Tape 833StartThursday, January 4, 1973 at 8:53 AMEndThursday, January 4, 1973 at 8:55 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 833-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the nuances of legal or professional representation, specifically debating the ethics of representing an individual on a personal basis while engaging in aggressive rhetoric. The participants contemplate how to frame a client's public stance to avoid the appearance of personal grievances or specific demands. The conversation ends abruptly with instructions to move forward with their established approach.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
The way I am, I would start in, you know,
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You tried to puzzle that he was taken on on a personal basis.
How could you represent him on a personal basis?
On a personal basis, can't make pretty rough personal attacks on the person that's supposed to, supposed to, supposed to.
That, that, that, he just tried to puzzle by himself.
He's not complaining.
He asked for no order.
He is not.
You should put it that way.
Sammy?
Hey, let's just go.
Let's go.
Suck harder than you can or I'll eat you up.
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 8:53 am and 8:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 833-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 833-7

Date: January 4, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:53 am and 8:55 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

       [See Conversation No. 35-82]

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.
  • 833-008 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.
  • 833-009 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:03 am.

All 47 conversations from January 4, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 833-007, 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/833-007 (accessed October 12, 2026).