President Nixon met with Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and legendary player Ted Williams to discuss professional baseball, including specific game tactics and the performance of star player Hank Aaron. The meeting served as a social engagement where the President was presented with a 1971 American League baseball pass. Nixon expressed his interest in attending a game in the near future and engaged in lighthearted conversation about the sport's current state.
On April 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Bowie K. Kuhn, Joseph E. Cronus, Charles S. Feeney, Robert E. Short, Theodore S. ("Ted") Williams, and Henry C. Cashen, II met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:40 pm and 3:50 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 476-029 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 476-29
Date: April 9, 1971
Time: 3:40 pm - unknown before 3:50 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Bowie K. Kuhn, Joseph E. Cronus, Charles S. Feeney, Robert E. Short,
Theodore S. (“Ted”) Williams, and Henry C. Cashen, II
Introductions
Baseball
President’s schedule
-Camp David
Baseball
-[Name unintelligible] pitcher
Henry L. (“Hank”) Aaron
-Recent performance
-Evaluation
-Sport writers
-Recognition
President’s schedule
-Possible attendance at baseball game
Senators
Presentation to the President of a 1971 American League baseball pass
Dwight D. Eisenhower
[General conversation]
-Baseball
Recording was cut off at an unknown time before 3:50 pmThis 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.