Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508 › Conversation 508-002

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on sports and motivation

Wednesday, June 2, 1971 · 8:55 AM–9:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 47 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation508-002 on Tape 508 (tape position 00:01:02–00:06:28)StartWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 8:55 AMEndWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 9:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 508-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a letter to an unidentified professional shortstop struggling with an extended hitting slump. Drawing a parallel to his own political career, the President offers encouragement regarding the necessity of perseverance during periods of professional failure. Nixon frames the letter as a gesture of support, urging the athlete to maintain confidence despite his current lack of performance.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

I saw a shortstop who has not had a hit in 44 times in the bat.
Standing from around the cigarette and using the first thing.
Airplane.
Good luck the next time you come off the bat.
In my own career, I have experienced long periods when
It's regardless of how hard I try.
Get a home run.
You are?

NARA Description

On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 508-002

Date: June 2, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:55 am and 9:20 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a letter to an unknown shortstop

     Ronald L. Ziegler

     Unknown shortstop’s batting problems
         -President’s political career

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

Also recorded on June 2, 1971

  • 508-001 8:55 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-003 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-004 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-005 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-006 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-007 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-008 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
  • 508-009 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.

All 42 conversations from June 2, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 508-002, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/508-002 (accessed September 26, 2026).