Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 32 › Conversation 032-170

Nixon phone call with Scott on 1972 Election and Virginia Senate race

Friday, November 3, 1972 · 10:08 AM–10:10 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, William L.Conversation032-170 on Tape 32StartFriday, November 3, 1972 at 10:08 AMEndFriday, November 3, 1972 at 10:10 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 032-170 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned Virginia congressional candidate William L. Scott to offer final words of encouragement and electoral support just days before the 1972 election. Nixon expressed regret that he could not personally campaign in Virginia but highlighted Vice President Spiro Agnew’s scheduled appearance in Richmond as a strategic effort to bolster Scott’s Senate bid. The two discussed their shared commitment to national defense and foreign policy, with Nixon reaffirming his endorsement to help secure Scott's victory.

Audio

Download MP3 · 2.0 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Congressman William Scott, Mr. President.
Yeah.
President, sir.
Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
Bill, I know you're working hard in your last two or three days, and the purpose of my call, I've already, as you know, written you a letter.
I wish you well.
I just can't get to all the states, and Virginia's one where I'd love to come, but I can't.
I just want to wish you well on Election Day and urge everybody to get out and vote.
Will you do that?
and because we uh we're grateful for the vice president coming here and well i asked him to go campaign in richmond on monday night well he'll do great for you and i asked him to go there and i thought that would help let me say too that what we uh we we we know that you'll work with us in this great area of national defense and foreign policy and that's what we need so uh
My first of about six or seven stops around Virginia today.
It was very good for us, and it was most gracious of you to come.
You tell them that I called and that I just repeating what you have already said in my endorsement.
We need you in the Senate, and we'll appreciate the support that you can give for our strong foreign.
Let me reciprocate by saying we know you're going to win.
We need you in the White House.
Thank you, Bill.
Bye-bye.

NARA Description

On November 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Scott talked on the telephone from 10:08 am to 10:10 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-170 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 032-170
Date: November 3, 1972
Time: 10:08 am - 10:10 am
Location: White House Telephone

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

The President talked with William L. Scott.

[See Conversation No. 391-31B]

        Greetings

        1972 election
            -The President’s previous letter
            -Virginia
                -The President's itinerary
                -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's visit
                     -Richmond
                -National defense
                -The President’s call
                -Scott's chances
                -The President's chances

Also recorded on November 3, 1972

  • 032-167 9:45 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:45 am.
  • 032-168 9:46 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:46 am.
  • 391-030 9:46 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 9:46 am.
  • 032-169 10:01 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Jack R. Miller talked on the telephone from 10:01 am to 10:04 am.
  • 812-001 10:15 AM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:15 am to 10:16 am.
  • 812-002 10:16 AM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
  • 812-003 10:16 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
  • 812-004 10:19 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Mistislav V. Keldysh, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, Philip Handler, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:19 am to 10:37 am.

All 54 conversations from November 3, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 032-170, November 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/032-170 (accessed September 28, 2026).