Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 21 › Conversation 021-027

Nixon phone call with Skelton on Florida and The Pledge of Allegiance

Wednesday, March 8, 1972 · 9:59 AM–10:00 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Skelton, Richard ("Red")Conversation021-027 on Tape 21 (tape position 01:09:26–01:10:34)StartWednesday, March 8, 1972 at 9:59 AMEndWednesday, March 8, 1972 at 10:00 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 021-027 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon calls comedian Red Skelton to express appreciation for his upcoming performance in Florida and to reinforce their political rapport. During the brief exchange, Nixon explicitly requests that Skelton conclude his act by reciting his well-known monologue, 'The Pledge of Allegiance' (referred to as 'The Flag'), as a personal tribute. Skelton affirms his total support for the President and agrees to incorporate the requested performance into his show.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Mr. Skelton, sir.
Hello.
Good morning.
Well, I just wanted to thank you for going down to Florida, Red, and I, as you know, have to stay here and concentrate on the problems of state, but I'm glad I got a few friends that are willing to say hello down there.
I'm behind you 100%, you know.
Well, I appreciate it, and my only regret is I can't be there.
I tell you, you know, I...
I could look at Red Skelton's axe all night, believe me.
Thank you.
And incidentally, as a request from me, will you do this?
Will you tell the audience as your last number to do the flag, you know?
All right, thank you.
You know that one?
I will, sir.
Or anything you want, but whatever you're going to wind up with, tell them it's my request, will you?
All right, thank you very much.
Okay.
Very kind.
Not only do we love you, we respect you, sir.
Anything I can do, you don't even have to ask.
Just ask anybody else to ask you to say you did.
Well, listen, I won't ask unless it's for me, okay?
God bless, son.
You take care, sir.
Thank you.
We love you.
Bye.

NARA Description

On March 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard ("Red") Skelton talked on the telephone from 9:59 am to 10:00 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 21-27

Date: March 9, 1972
Time: 9:59 am - 10:00 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Richard (“Red”) Skelton.

[See Conversation No. 681-2B]

     Florida
           -Appreciation
           -Skelton’s support
           -Skelton’s act
                -The President request
                      -“The Flag”

Also recorded on March 8, 1972

  • 021-025 9:00 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:00 am and 9:59 am.
  • 021-026 9:00 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:00 am and 9:59 am.
  • 021-028 10:00 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:00 am and 12:31 pm.
  • 021-020 10:25 AM · 28 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:25 am and 11:49 am.
  • 021-021 10:25 AM · 7 min — the White House operator and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:25 am and 11:49 am.
  • 021-022 11:50 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:50 am and 4:40 pm.
  • 321-018 12:29 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:29 pm to 12:45 pm.
  • 021-029 12:31 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 12:31 pm to 12:34 pm.

All 36 conversations from March 8, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 021-027, March 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/021-027 (accessed October 21, 2026).