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Conversation 032-114

TapeTape 32StartWednesday, November 1, 1972 at 10:45 AMEndWednesday, November 1, 1972 at 10:46 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Scali, John A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with John A. Scali regarding a personal phone call the President made to professional football player Sonny Jurgensen to offer encouragement following a professional setback. Nixon expressed concern about the optics of the gesture and explicitly instructed Scali to keep the call private. He authorized Scali to confirm the conversation only if the information were to leak to the public, emphasizing that he did not want to appear to be exploiting the athlete's situation.

Sonny JurgensenPublic relationsPersonal communicationProfessional footballPolitical image
AudioNARA Description

On November 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John A. Scali talked on the telephone from 10:45 am to 10:46 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-114 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 32-114

Date: November 1, 1972
Time: 10:45 am - 10:46 am
                                              85

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Oct-06)

Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John A. Scali.

[See Conversation No. 379-14]

        The President's recent call to Christian A. ("Sonny") Jurgenson
            -Attitude
            -The President's encouragement
            -Release of information
                 -The President’s instructions
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Yeah.
Mr. Scali.
Yeah.
Yes, sir.
John, I had a good talk with Sonny Jergensen on the phone.
He is very depressed.
It was a terribly difficult decision.
And I said, oh, what the hell?
The redheads never...
I said, the redheads never give up.
I said, well, I've been out for two years in this way.
And I said, but you've got something.
Nobody else has a great arm.
And I said, you've got to think about it and so forth and so on.
I want to tell you, I don't want to put this out that I called him.
If it gets out, let him do it.
It looks like we're exploiting the damn thing.
I understand.
So I just want to tell you that I had done it, however.
And if it gets out, you can confirm.
Okay?
Very good, sir.
All right, John.
Thank you.
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