Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 801 › Conversation 801-010

Nixon & Bull on Gale Sayers and Political endorsements

Tuesday, October 17, 1972 · 11:22 AM–11:24 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation801-010 on Tape 801StartTuesday, October 17, 1972 at 11:22 AMEndTuesday, October 17, 1972 at 11:24 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 801-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on potential meetings with the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs and former NFL star Gale Sayers. Bull provided updates on Robert J. Brown’s efforts to secure Sayers's public endorsement, noting his perceived value as a representative with broad appeal. The President expressed reservations about pressuring Sayers, ultimately deciding to adopt a hands-off approach while awaiting further word on the athlete's intentions.

Presidential scheduling
Gale Sayers
Political endorsements
Robert J. Brown
National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs

Audio

Download MP3 · 2.2 MB

NARA Description

On October 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:24 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 801-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 801-10

Date: October 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:22 am and 11:24 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

        The President's schedule

             -Forthcoming meeting with representatives of the National Federation of Business
              and Professional Women’s Clubs
                  -Rose Mary Woods
             -Possible meeting with Gale E. Sayers
                  -Robert J. Brown’s meeting with Sayers
                  -Sayers's possible support for the President
                  -The President’s view
                      The President’s previous conversation with Sayers

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:24 am.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Mr. President, right now, Bob Brown is trying to get down centers and try to get a third committee from centers.

He was scheduled once before to come in.

Well, I talked to him in there, and I feel that I really have.

But I think in terms of if he wants to do it, he would go across the street and announce publicly for you.

If you don't wish to do that, I just want to push it to the best of my ability.

I think he's good for this meeting.

I just leave him alone.

I chat with him a little bit there.

I just leave him alone.

I just feel a little uncomfortable about trying to push him.

Well, he's not being pushed.

I'm just saying.

Brown doesn't give him a way back.

The advantage to Gail Sears is that, obviously, not just a black representative, but he has a rapport.

I can use that to serve quite a few people across the board.

Well, there's a lot of browns to bring him in.

Well, we'll have a reading in a few minutes what Sayers wants to do.

Sayers, don't question it.

He's not making any answers.

Also recorded on October 17, 1972

031-100 11:22 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:22 am.
801-009 11:22 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:22 am.
031-101 11:24 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:24 am.
801-011 11:24 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:24 am.
801-012 11:24 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:26 am.
801-013 11:24 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:26 am.
801-014 11:24 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:26 am.
801-015 11:24 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:24 am and 11:26 am.

All 67 conversations from October 17, 1972 →

Nixon, Ehrlichman & Brown on International Marketing and Public Broadcasting February 5, 1973 · 8 min
Nixon phone call with Rizzo on Frank Sinatra and Philadelphia politics July 19, 1972 · 7 min
Nixon phone call with Calhoon on Labor Unions and 1972 Presidential Election July 19, 1972 · 3 min
Nixon phone call with McClure on 1972 elections and Political endorsements November 4, 1972 · 2 min
Nixon phone call with Bellmon on Senate campaign and Watergate May 11, 1973 · 1 min
Nixon, Connally & Colson on George Smathers and Senate races July 23, 1972 · 3 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 801-010, October 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/801-010 (accessed November 9, 2026).