Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 815 › Conversation 815-005

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Bob Devaney and University of Nebraska

Friday, November 24, 1972 · 8:03 AM–8:21 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation815-005 on Tape 815StartFriday, November 24, 1972 at 8:03 AMEndFriday, November 24, 1972 at 8:21 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 815-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met in the Oval Office to dictate a formal letter of consolation to University of Nebraska football coach Bob Devaney following his team's recent loss to the University of Oklahoma. Nixon expressed his belief that while Devaney is accustomed to the frequent praise associated with winning, a defeat presents an unfamiliar and difficult experience. The President focused on crafting a message that would offer support to the coach during a rare moment of professional adversity.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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It is so unreal for you to lose a game.
This is the Bob Devaney, the coach of the Nebraska Corners.
Here, Bob.
I am sure that you are so accustomed to receiving hundreds of congratulatory messages when you win games, when your teams have won games.
And you hardly know what to expect when you lose a game, okay?

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 815-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 815-5

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

The President dictated a letter to Robert Devaney.

       University of Nebraska football
            -Defeat [November 23, 1972 versus University of Oklahoma]

The President replayed the dictation.

The President resumed dictation.

       Introduction
             -Devaney
                   -University of Nebraska Cornhuskers

       University of Nebraska football
            -Victories
                   -Congratulatory messages
                                              -4-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                          Conversation No. 815-19 (cont’d)

             -Defeats

[This dictation is continued on Conversation No. 815-7]

Also recorded on November 24, 1972

  • 815-001 8:03 AM · 7 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.
  • 815-002 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.
  • 815-006 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 815-005, 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/815-005 (accessed October 12, 2026).