Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 32 › Conversation 032-111

Nixon phone call with Jurgenson on Sonny Jurgensen and Washington Redskins

Wednesday, November 1, 1972 · 9:15 AM–9:17 AM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Jurgenson, Christian A. ("Sonny")Conversation032-111 on Tape 32StartWednesday, November 1, 1972 at 9:15 AMEndWednesday, November 1, 1972 at 9:17 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 032-111 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Washington Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen at the hospital to express his personal sympathies following a recent injury. During the conversation, the President discouraged Jurgensen from retiring, urging him to continue his football career by highlighting his unique talent and competitive spirit. Nixon cited the example of other athletes returning from injury to encourage Jurgensen to pursue a comeback.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
President, I have Mr. Jurgensen on the line.
Hello.
Mr. President?
Sonny?
Yes, sir.
You're at the hospital?
Yes, I am.
I'll tell you, you know, the whole town, as you know, is really, really profoundly sorry about the whole thing, but the thing I called you about was this, that I saw some piece in the poster of the Star that affected you saying that you wouldn't come back next year, and I just want to tell you you ought to do it.
I mean, heck, you know, I'm sort of the originator of coming back when everybody had thought it couldn't make it, you know.
And with all your talent, I mean, gosh, when you see what, well, look what Marl's doing down there.
Well, it's true, Mr. President.
When you've been laid out two years in a row, it's a difficult thing to make.
It is.
Well, it is, I know.
But, you know, you've been out to years.
First you had your shoulder, and then you had this thing.
On the other hand, the thing that you have that the other fellows don't have, I mean, as good as they are, I wouldn't take it away, but you can throw better than anybody else.
And also you've got that little spark, you know.
And by golly, just the main thing at this time, you're sitting in there and all that pain and the rest, you've just got to do it.
You've got to take another crack at it.
because you weigh it, but an awful lot of people are pulling for you.
And I must say, I saw the Dallas game on TV, and, boy, that was a great one.
That second half was really something to see.
But this is just one of those freak accidents, wasn't it?
You probably stepped in some darn hole and just sort of nipped this thing, huh?
I think I did.
Yeah.
I certainly do appreciate you calling and wishing me well.
Well, we wish you well.
And just keep that old spirit up.
You know, the redheads never give up.
All right, sir.
Never, never.
Thank you, sir.
Apart from being from Duke.
Okay.
Thank you.
Bye.

NARA Description

On November 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Christian A. ("Sonny") Jurgenson talked on the telephone from 9:15 am to 9:17 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-111 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 032-111

Date: November 1, 1972
Time: 9:15 am - 9:17 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Christian A. ("Sonny") Jurgenson.

[See Conversation No. 379-8]

        Jurgenson's location

        Jurgenson's career

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

             -Possible retirement
                 -Newspaper reports
                      -Wasahington Post or Washington Star
                 -The President's advice
                      -Earl Morrall
                      -Injuries
                      -Talent
                      -Return to football

        Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboys game
           -Outcome
           -Jurgenson's injury

        Jurgenson's career
            -Duke University

Also recorded on November 1, 1972

  • 032-108 9:02 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:02 am to 9:03 am.
  • 032-109 9:03 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:09 am.
  • 379-006 9:03 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:09 am.
  • 032-110 9:09 AM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:09 am to 9:10 am.
  • 379-007 9:09 AM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:09 am to 9:10 am.
  • 379-008 9:15 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Christian A. ("Sonny") Jurgenson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:15 am to 9:17 am.
  • 379-009 9:17 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Marjorie P. Acker met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:17 am and 9:26 am.
  • 379-010 9:26 AM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:26 am to 9:59 am.

All 58 conversations from November 1, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 032-111, November 1, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/032-111 (accessed October 5, 2026).