Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 009-131
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 1971 at 6:49 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/009-131

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Mr. Ziegler, Mr. President.
[0:01] Yes, sir.
[0:02] Ron, I wonder what you were...
[0:04] I was thinking I should have checked this with you earlier with regard to that Angel thing.
[0:10] That's a damn good story.
[0:12] Did you...
[0:12] Yes, I'd move.
[0:13] Yes, sir.
[0:13] Yeah.
[0:14] But I was thinking if you might get a hold of Finch and have him call Gene Autry and, you know, the other owner of the Angels, which is the name of our old friend from Stanford.
[0:27] Oh, well... Yeah.
[0:28] Yeah.
[0:30] I can't think of a minute.
[0:31] Yeah.
[0:32] But anyway, but that's a hell of a story for California and the sports editor out there, you know.
[0:38] I mean, Nixon now becomes an angel fan.
[0:42] Oh, sure.
[0:42] Now, understand, don't count on it's moving from here.
[0:46] That won't do it.
[0:47] But we've got to move it ourselves, you know, feed it out.
[0:51] Well, yes.
[0:52] Reynolds.
[0:52] Reynolds.
[0:53] Reynolds.
[0:54] But, I mean, Bob Finch loves to do these things.
[0:57] Let him call Reynolds and Autry and have them build it up that...
[1:01] The president has become an angel fan.
[1:02] He's going to come the opening game for the angels.
[1:05] All right, fine.
[1:06] Was it moved?
[1:07] Oh, yes, on the wires.
[1:08] And I know the angels are aware of that, but I have feds do this.
[1:12] And also the L.A. Times and Hearst and everyone were here at the briefing this morning.
[1:16] Will they use it?
[1:17] Oh, absolutely.
[1:18] I'm sure they will.
[1:19] But we'll do this other, too.
[1:21] You see, it's very important for them to understand that this is because—
[1:25] In a very real sense, it has historical significance.
[1:29] Here, the president, for 71 years, has thrown off the ball in the Washington ballpark.
[1:33] And they're going to happen next time.
[1:36] And I'm not going to let it happen.
[1:37] But I will throw out the ball, and every president should, in his home ballpark.
[1:42] Mine's going to be Angel Stadium.
[1:44] Okay, sir.
[1:45] In Anaheim.
[1:46] And I think that's, did you tell the boys that that's what I was going to do?
[1:49] Yes, sir.
[1:50] Covered it in detail.
[1:50] I said I'd just talk to you about it, and I, you know, went through the whole thing.
[1:54] But I think letting Bob get into this, let's really build it up out there.
[1:58] Okay?
[1:58] Okay, sir.
[1:59] Bye.
[1:59] Bye.