Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 829 › Conversation 829-028

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Roberto Clemente and Nicaragua earthquake

Tuesday, January 2, 1973 · 9:03 AM–9:28 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation829-028 on Tape 829StartTuesday, January 2, 1973 at 9:03 AMEndTuesday, January 2, 1973 at 9:28 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 829-028 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a formal tribute to Roberto Clemente, highlighting his selfless character and humanitarian spirit. The President emphasizes Clemente's tragic death while on a mission of mercy to deliver relief supplies to victims of the devastating earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua. This recording serves as a drafting session for a public statement intended to honor Clemente's legacy of generosity.

  • Roberto Clemente
  • Nicaragua earthquake
  • Humanitarian aid
  • Presidential statements
  • Tributes

Audio

Download MP3 · 3.4 MB

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 43% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

We are reminded that he deserves even greater respect and admiration for his splendid qualities as a generous and kind
He sacrificed his life on a mission of mercy.
and the best memorial we can build to his memory.
He's incredibly generous.
for the relief of those.
He was trying to help actually earthquake victims.
Nicaragua.
That's the end of the day.
Bring it in to me and I'll correct you.

NARA Description

On January 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 829-028 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 829-28

Date: January 2, 1973
Time: Unknown 9:03 am and 9:28 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a statement.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 829-27]

       Roberto W. Clemente's qualities
            -Earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua
                  -Relief contributions

Also recorded on January 2, 1973

  • 035-052 9:03 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 10:15 am.
  • 829-025 9:03 AM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-026 9:03 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-027 9:03 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-029 9:03 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-030 9:03 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-039 9:03 AM · 17 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-040 9:03 AM · 9 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.

All 52 conversations from January 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 829-028, January 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/829-028 (accessed October 12, 2026).