Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 648 › Conversation 648-002

Nixon & Shula on Miami Dolphins and Super Bowl VI

Monday, January 17, 1972 · 8:58 AM–9:48 AM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Shula, DonConversation648-002 on Tape 648 (tape position 00:25:31–00:31:45)StartMonday, January 17, 1972 at 8:58 AMEndMonday, January 17, 1972 at 9:48 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 648-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula to offer consolation following the team's recent loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. During their brief meeting, the President dictated a formal letter of encouragement, praising Shula’s leadership and the team’s impressive performance throughout the season. Nixon expressed his admiration for the Dolphins' competitive spirit and conveyed his confidence that the franchise would remain a top contender in future seasons.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I go on to say that it must be you and the members of your fine team who have received an announcement as a fine member.
You can take a radio and cryo letter in the back with you.
Brought the young golf team to the very heights of pro football competition.
The team that was at its absolute peak
and denied the great prize.
After coming so close, first time we hit it straight with the park.
Miami will have a chance.
You can look back with pride.
Have a great season.
Thank you.
And I would not want to be on the other side of the defense, on the other team.
The next time you're... You got my hand in players.
I have another shot.
Absolutely.
Thank you very much.

NARA Description

On January 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Don Shula met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:58 am and 9:48 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 648-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 648-2

Date: January 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:58 am and 9:48 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a letter to Don Shula.

     Miami Dolphins
         -Loss in Super Bowl, January 16, 1972
              -Expression of sympathy
         -Shula's coaching
         -Super Bowl game
              -Dallas Cowboys
         -Previous season

Also recorded on January 17, 1972

  • 648-001 8:58 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Allen S. Drury met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:58 am and 9:48 am.
  • 648-003 8:58 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:58 am and 9:48 am.
  • 648-004 9:48 AM · 3 hr 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, unknown person(s), White House operator, John B. Connally, Henry A. Kissinger, H. G. Wells, Robert S. Ingersoll, and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 1:23 pm.
  • 018-087 11:24 AM · 2 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:30 am.
  • 648-005 1:23 PM · 19 sec — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 3:45 pm.
  • 018-088 1:25 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 2:39 pm.
  • 315-001 1:25 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 2:39 pm.
  • 315-002 1:25 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 2:39 pm.

All 40 conversations from January 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 648-002, January 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/648-002 (accessed September 29, 2026).