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Conversation 279-043

TapeTape 279StartWednesday, September 22, 1971 at 6:49 PMEndWednesday, September 22, 1971 at 6:51 PMTape start time03:41:53Tape end time03:43:43ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss a public relations strategy to highlight the President's support for the California Angels baseball team. Nixon aims to replace the tradition of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in Washington with a commitment to do so at Angel Stadium, viewing this as a significant political and symbolic gesture for California. Ziegler is tasked with coordinating with team owner Gene Autry and media figures to promote the story and cultivate the President's image as an avid supporter of the franchise.

Public RelationsCalifornia AngelsSports DiplomacyMedia StrategyGene Autry
AudioNARA Description

On September 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:49 pm to 6:51 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 279-043 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 279-43

Date: September 22, 1971
Time: 6:49 pm - 6:51 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 9-131]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Ron, I wonder what you were, I was thinking I should have checked this with you earlier, with regard to that angel, and that's a damn good story to do.
Yeah, but I was thinking if you might go over the bench and call Gene Autry and, I don't know.
Yeah, but anyway.
But that's a hell of a story for California.
And of course, as you're out there, you know, with Nixon, now he becomes an angel man.
Now, don't tell me that's moving from here.
That won't do it.
We've got to do it ourselves, you know, feed it out.
And Reynolds, Reynolds, Reynolds.
I mean, Bob Hicks loves to do these things.
Let me call Reynolds and Autry and have them build it up.
The president has become an angel man.
He's going to come revolving the angels in the angels.
Does it move?
It's important for them to understand because in a very real sense of historical significance, here the president for 71 years has thrown off the ball in the Washington ballpark.
It's not going to happen next time.
And I'm not going to let him have it.
But I will throw out the ball whenever the president should in his home ballpark.
And mine is going to be Angel Stadium.
And I think that's what you get.
If you tell the board this, then what are we going to do?
All right.
All right.
But I think that if you let Bob get on this, that you're still going to have it out there.
OK.
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