157–4

Conversation No. 157-4

Date: December 5, 1972
Time: 10:05 pm and 10:34 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 233-6]


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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)

Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d)

Colson’s location
-1972 election

The President’s schedule
-Reception for Californians
-Robert H. Finch

1972 election
-California
-Fundraising
-Predictions
-Youth
-George S. McGovern
-Organization
-Results
-Compared to 1964 election
-Statistics
-John B. Connally
-Secretaries of State
-Vote count tampering
-Final reports
-Arkansas
-Missouri
-New Jersey
-Washington
-West Virginia
-Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson’s victory

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Vietnam negotiations
-Possible breakdown
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-[Henry A. Kissinger’s] cable
-The President’s conversation with Colson
-Colson’s view
-1920s
-Normalcy
 -5-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)

Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d)

-1972 election
-Public explanation
-Definitions of “administrative mechanisms” [re. National
Committee of National Reconciliation and Concord]
[NCNRC]
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Effect
-Timing
-Colson’s view
-The President’s previous TV appearances
-Presidential action
-November 3, 1969 speech
-Demonstrators
-Silent Majority
-Explanation of impasse
-Enemy trickery
-Colson’s view
-Colson’s negotiating experience
-Impasse
-Kissinger’s position
-Compared to Kissinger’s return from the Soviet Union
-US-Soviet summit
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Public opinion
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-19th and 20th parallel
-Hanoi, Haiphong
-Possible North Vietnamese bluff
-Colson’s negotiating experience
-Surface to air missiles [SAMs]
-Kissinger’s view
-Presidential action
-Effect
-Supporters
-Opposition
-Foreign policy
-North Vietnam
-Public opinion
-North Vietnam’s view
 -6-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)

Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d)

-Congressional action
-Cut off of aid
-George S. McGovernites
-The President’s conversations with John B.
Connally
-1972 election
-Congressional “doves”
-Strength
-Draft
-Casualties
-1972 election
-Peace with honor
-Compared to US withdrawal
-US bombing of North Vietnam for prisoners of war [POWs]
-Possible interpretation
-US withdrawal
-Colson’s view
-Haldeman’s reading of second cable
-1972 election
-1972 election
-Public support for the President
-Press relations
-Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” comment [in October 26, 1972 press
conference]
-POWs
-Kissinger’s press and media relations
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Kissinger’s morale
-The President, Haldeman, Colson, Ziegler
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Forthcoming talks
-Timing
-Public opinion
-Public opinion
-Colson’s conversations
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Louis P. Harris
-Stock market
-Retail sales
-Christmas
 -7-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)

Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d)

-1972 election
-1972 campaign
-McGovern
-Second term
-Economy
-The President’s possible TV speech
-Effect
-Compared to [Kissinger’s possible statement]
-North Vietnamese intractability
-Settlement agreement
-Timing
-Possible breakdown
-Kissinger’s press and media relations
-“Peace is at hand”
-Settlement agreement
-Settlement agreement
-Public opinion
-Ziegler’s view
-Daniel Yankelovich’s view
-Settlement agreement
-The President’s November 2, 1972 speech, “Look to the Future”
-The President’s confidence
-1972 election
-Press relations
-Kissinger
-Relations with the President
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-Authority
-Credibility
-The President’s speech, “Look to the Future”
-“Peace is at hand”
-Tone
-Possible breakdown
-The President’s possible TV speech
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-South Vietnam’s rejection
-Consultation
-Kissinger’s trip to Paris
-North Vietnam’s view
-Twelve changes
 -8-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)

Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d)

-Labor negotiations
-Timing
-Kissinger’s return from Paris
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-North Vietnam’s reaction
-US public opinion
-North Vietnam’s willingness to settle
-US bombing
-Incentive
-Congressional action
-Cut off of aid
-1972 election
-Status of war
-US presence in South Vietnam
-Casualties
-Air war
-Draft
-Press relations
-Kissinger
-Possible leak
-Saigon, Washington, DC
-POWs
-Christmas
-1972 elections
-Twelve changes
-Process
-Kissinger’s cables
-Tone
-Colson’s view
-Labor negotiations
-North Vietnam’s April 1972 offensive
-US reaction
-Absence of US statement
-US bombing
-Kissinger’s second cable
-Haldeman’s reading
-Colson’s view
-Logic
-Emotion
-The President’s role
 -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)

Conversation No.157-4 (cont’d)

-Kalb
-Public opinion
-Samuel Lubell’s
-Antiwar movement
-November demonstation
-Size
-Intellectuals
-The President’s possible TV speech
-Effect
-Supporters
-Opponents
-US bombing
-Perceived weakness in President’s position
-Public opinion
-Haldeman’s, Ziegler’s, and Colson’s view
-Kissinger’s cable
-Connally’s view
-Haldeman
-Colson’s view
-Timing
-Public opinion
-Press relations
-Washington, DC
-Reports, troop withdrawals, press conferences
-Public opinion
-Richard M. Scammon’s view
-Compared to Harris’s view
-1972 election
-Social issue
-The President’s view
-Scammon’s letter to union
-The President’s leadership
-Happiness, contentedness
-Colson’s view
-Kissinger’s return from Paris
-Press relations
-Washington, DC
-POWs
-Wives
 -10-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Apr.-08)