Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 815 › Conversation 815-001

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Larry Brown and Washington Redskins

Friday, November 24, 1972 · 8:03 AM–8:21 AM ET · Oval Office · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation815-001 on Tape 815StartFriday, November 24, 1972 at 8:03 AMEndFriday, November 24, 1972 at 8:21 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 815-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a congratulatory letter to Washington Redskins running back Larry Brown regarding his recent athletic achievement of surpassing 1,000 yards. Beyond sports, the letter emphasizes Nixon’s admiration for Brown’s volunteer work at the Washington Receiving Home for Children, highlighting the importance of assisting those less fortunate. The President concludes by praising Brown’s character and offering encouragement for the team's upcoming Super Bowl prospects.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 9% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, this is a letter to Larry Brown from Washington Press.

Dear Larry, when you passed the 1,000-yard mark on Monday night, you justifiably received the plies of the thousands and the stans, as well as many of all the computers.

Great.

Very good.

and the Redskins fan I am.

I enthusiastically join those who applaud you, who congratulate you.

I enthusiastically applaud you and I am.

I enthusiastically join the Redskins fan

I enthusiastically, uh, join your fans throughout the country for this great occasion.

Here, here.

However, there's a story of me.

Morning paper yesterday.

Take this letter today, write it.

which will not probably receive this much publicity.

But what can I do?

Deserve people, or even more,

Is every bit, if not more, worthy of mention that you're outstanding for parks on football field?

I read about how you went down to the Washington proceeding hall for children.

Uh, that's another, that's a publicity game.

Okay?

But only for the purpose of giving some young boys

They'd have probably given up on themselves.

So, inspiration.

Try again.

Numbers such as 3, 5, and 3, 2, period.

Too often, the man who gets to the top forgets the man on the bottom.

You have the dignity commentators and the sports runners always referring to your great heart on the football field.

Here you are demonstrating in a very personal way your great heart and your dealing with

of your great heart in trying to help less fortunate people, very, very much.

And we wondered how, if even one of those youngsters gets a lift out of here having been there, the credits were filed.

I am very sure that was the case, Jerry.

Is it, sir?

Richard Nixon.

I'm signing.

He is.

Best of luck at Super Bowl.

NARA Description

On November 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 8:21 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 815-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 815-1

Date: November 24, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:03 am and 8:21 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a letter to Larry Brown.

       Brown's running record
           -Congratulations
                  -Praise from fans
                        -The President’s support of Washington Redskins

The President replayed the dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Brown’s running record
           -Congratulations
           -Newspaper article, November 23, 1972
                  -The President’s letter
                        -Date
                  -Publicity
                  -Brown's visit to Washington Receiving Home for Children
                        -Morale of children
                        -Assistance to less fortunate people
                        -Brown’s football performance
                              -Media and press coverage
                        -Assistance to less fortunate people

       Super Bowl
            Post script

Also recorded on November 24, 1972

815-002 8:03 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 8:21 am.
815-003 8:03 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 8:21 am.
815-004 8:03 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 8:21 am.
815-005 8:03 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 8:21 am.
815-006 8:21 AM · 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:21 am to 8:56 am.
815-007 8:56 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 9:37 am.
815-008 8:56 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 9:37 am.
815-009 8:56 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 9:37 am.

All 19 conversations from November 24, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 815-001, November 24, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/815-001 (accessed October 12, 2026).