Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 815 › Conversation 815-007

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Robert Devaney

Friday, November 24, 1972 · 8:56 AM–9:37 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation815-007 on Tape 815StartFriday, November 24, 1972 at 8:56 AMEndFriday, November 24, 1972 at 9:37 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 815-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a congratulatory and consolatory letter to University of Nebraska head football coach Robert Devaney following his final home game. The President expresses his regret over the team's loss to the University of Oklahoma while emphasizing that the defeat does not diminish Devaney's status as one of the greatest coaches in football history. The dictation serves to formally acknowledge Devaney's career achievements and the loyalty of his national fan base.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Uh, hundreds of, uh, congratulatory, uh, messages.
When you win games, when your teams have won games, that you hardly, uh, don't want to look back when you lose again, period.
The purpose of this note is to tell you that Nebraska was great in victory and also a great team in defeat.
I regret the fact that your team lost the last home game with you as head coach.
I'm sure it was a personal disappointment.
However, the amount
football fans across the country who have followed you over the years.
or for the following, for the thousands of football fans throughout the country for the years.
This loss did not detract one bit from the luster you have acquired as one of the football
Coaches, all time great.
All time great.
Sincerely,

NARA Description

On November 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 9:37 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 815-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 815-7

Date: November 24, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:56 am and 9:37 am
Location: Oval Office
                                                  -13-

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                                Conversation No. 815-19 (cont’d)

The President replayed the dictation of the letter to Robert Devaney.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 815-5]

       University of Nebraska football
            -Victories
                   -Congratulatory messages
            -Defeats

The President resumed dictation.

                -University of Nebraska
                     -Victory
                     -Defeat
                            -Devaney’s last home game as head coach [November 23, 1972 versus
                             University of Oklahoma]
                                 -Disappointment
                                 -Devaney’s fans
                                 -Devaney’s career

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.
  • 815-006 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.
  • 815-008 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.
  • 815-010 8:56 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 9:37 am.
  • 815-011 9:37 AM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George W. Romney, John D. Ehrlichman, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:37 am to 10:14 am.

All 19 conversations from November 24, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 815-007, 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/815-007 (accessed October 12, 2026).