Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 774 › Conversation 774-008

Nixon & Schenkel on 1972 Summer Olympics and ABC Sports

Monday, September 11, 1972 · 11:09 AM–11:15 AM ET · Oval Office ·6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Schenkel, ChrisConversation774-008 onTape 774StartMonday, September 11, 1972 at 11:09 AMEndMonday, September 11, 1972 at 11:15 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 774-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with ABC broadcaster Chris Schenkel to offer formal commendation for the network's coverage of the 1972 Summer Olympics. Nixon praised the production quality and the commentators' overt support for the United States, noting that his family and staff found the broadcast particularly engaging. The two discussed specific athletic highlights and the competitive spirit of various international teams, with the President authorizing Schenkel to share his positive feedback publicly.

  • 1972 Summer Olympics
  • ABC Sports
  • Chris Schenkel
  • Media coverage
  • Patriotism
  • Sports broadcasting

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 must say, I haven't seen as much as I would have liked when I had caught bits and pieces from time to time.
I just think, first, the reporting, the camera work, the production, it's superb.
And the commentary, I like the way you guys stand up for the United States.
I mean, all the rest, Frank Diverton, Hargis Allen, Bill Chandler, et cetera.
But I wish you would tell the whole team, I mean, the team of ABC reporters,
hard game in some way, hard game because of the tragedy.
But I think ABC just did an awfully good job.
Yeah, you might have.
Try to give it extra time or something, the basketball thing or something.
I'm just fine, just fine.
Yeah, I'm just fine, and the connection is excellent.
Yeah, and yeah.
Oh, absolutely.
You can say that I told, that I said, I'll tell you what, my members, my family, my daughters, and so forth, have seen a great deal, like you said.
I thought I was, the whole, I mean, the first was the production was terrific.
The commentary was excellent.
He made people feel they were right at the games.
And I'm putting it quite candidly.
I like the way that ABC, as the American protesting system, stood up for the United States.
I mean, after all, I don't go along with this attitude that the international
I thought one of the highlights of the game was when you showed Ray Siegel there.
I mean, most of our people
I saw the relay yesterday.
I'm so glad our guys came.
Particularly, I felt so sorry for those two fellows
try to be number one.
Yeah.
Right.
Sure, sure.
That's an element.
That's an element.
I am, I think you should also say I have great respect for the Russians, the East Germans, the West Germans, the Japanese who were so great in gymnastics.
In other words, I think
We were all proud of our own team, and our own boys.
And I saw Mickey Kings die, incidentally.
And of course, Spitz.
I saw him win the seven.
Well, I went to the relay with the seven.
Yeah, I saw that.
I didn't get the Spice, and only won other races.
But lucky seven.
And for us, that was really a great win.
So you can use what you want.
I will not wish well.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On September 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Chris Schenkel met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:09 am to 11:15 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 774-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 774-8

Date: September 11, 1972
Time: 11:09 am - 11:15 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Chris Schenkel.

         Discussion of American Broadcasting Company [ABC] broadcast of Olympics
             -Commendation by the President

                                     (rev. Oct-06)

                -Reporting, camera work, production commentary
                -Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Wilt Chamberlain
            -American public's feelings
            -Basketball game
            -Coverage
                -The President's daughters, staff
                -The President’s schedule
                      -Hawaii
            -Commentary
            -Idea of supporting US
            -Behavior of American athletes
                -Ray Seales
            -1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games
            -Track and field events
            -Athletes of other countries
                -Soviet Union, West Germany, East Germany, Japan
            -Swimming
                -Diving
                      -Micki King
                -Mark Spitz

Also recorded on September 11, 1972

  • 774-007 11:09 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:09 am.
  • 774-009 11:18 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:18 am to 11:22 am.
  • 774-010 11:23 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Russell E. Train, Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:23 am to 11:34 am.
  • 774-011 11:38 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:38 am.
  • 774-012 11:39 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:39 am.
  • 774-013 11:39 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:39 am.
  • 774-014 11:40 AM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:40 am to 12:02 pm.
  • 774-015 12:03 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, James R. Mann, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:03 pm to 12:04 pm.

All 36 conversations from September 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 774-008, September 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/774-008 (accessed September 18, 2026).