Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 886 › Conversation 886-010

Nixon, Scowcroft & Korbut on Soviet Union and Olympics

Wednesday, March 21, 1973 · 11:57 AM–12:07 PM ET · Oval Office · 10 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.); White House photographer; Boganova, Lyubov I.; Korbut, Olga V.; Koshel, Antonina V.; Lazakovich, Tamara V.; Sikharulidze, Rusudan A.; Turishcheva, Lyudmila I.; Smolevskiy, Vladimir M.; Dimitriyev, Vikentiy D.; Dnysh, Renald I.; Rastrotskiy, Vladislav A.; Iläó»Yashevasaya, Lyudmila I.; Zarechnak, DimtryConversation886-010 on Tape 886StartWednesday, March 21, 1973 at 11:57 AMEndWednesday, March 21, 1973 at 12:07 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 886-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon hosted members of the Soviet national gymnastics team, including Olympic star Olga Korbut, and their coaching staff in the Oval Office for a diplomatic meet-and-greet. Accompanied by General Brent Scowcroft, the President congratulated the athletes on their performance at the Munich Olympics and used the visit to emphasize the importance of youth in the future of U.S.-Soviet relations. The session concluded with a formal photo opportunity, the exchange of presidential gifts, and an offer for the team to receive a tour of the White House.

Audio

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NARA Description

On March 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, White House photographer, Lyubov I. Boganova, Olga V. Korbut, Antonina V. Koshel, Tamara V. Lazakovich, Rusudan A. Sikharulidze, Lyudmila I. Turishcheva, Vladimir M. Smolevskiy, Vikentiy D. Dimitriyev, Renald I. Dnysh, Vladislav A. Rastrotskiy, Lyudmila I. Il???Yashevasaya, and Dimtry Zarechnak met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:57 am to 12:07 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 886-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 886-10

Date: March 21, 1973
Time: 11:57 am - 12:07 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Lyubov' I. Boganova, Ol'Ga V. Korbut, Antonina V. Koshel', Tamara V.
Lazakovich, Rusudan A. Sikharulidze, Lyudmila I. Turishcheva, Vladimir M. Smolevskiy,
Vikentiy D. Dmitriyev, Renal'd I. Dnysh, Vladislav A. Rastorotskiy, Lyudmila I. Il'Yashevasaya,
Dmitry Zarechnak and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft. Members of the press and the White House
photographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Soviet gymnastic team’s entrance
            -Arrangements
                 -President’s location

[Photograph session]

       Introductions

       Congratulations to team

       Munich Olympics
            -Television [TV] viewing
            -Team's visit to Washington, DC
                  -Politicians

       Team's visit
            -Soviet Youth
            -President's talks with leaders of Soviet Union
                   -US relations with Soviet Union
                   -Future of youth
                                                -21-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                              Conversation No. 886-10 (cont’d)

                          -Differences among leaders

       Ages

       Gifts
               -Women
                    -Presidential seal
                          -Pin
               -Men
                    -Cufflinks

       Visit to US
              -Reception
                   -TV coverage
              -Tour of White House
                   -Comparison with Kremlin
                         -Age of structure

Boganova, et al., left at 12:07 pm.

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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Thank you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you.
I don't know.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
If I watch the Olympics on holiday,
I noticed that you all had the same colors and all the same numbers.
That's why your visit to Washington is a visible proof that all of the politicians are from Washington, D.C. You know, Washington, D.C., that's not what I mean.
That's not what I mean.
That's what I mean.
Most importantly, I want you to know that we welcome you to Oxford because of your athletic achievements and because of what you have to do for your country.
My talks with your leaders last week, the talks I will have later this year, and we will be talking about the present, of course, in relation to the U.S.
But what we are going to be talking about most of all is the future.
When we talk about the future, it concerns the youth of this country.
Whatever the difference between leaders may be, we think that the young people of the world can live with a meal of food.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
or the eight-fifty girls, the tall girls.
I have the presidential seat, which is required.
You see, it's the seat of the president.
It's the seat of the president.
It's the seat of the president.
It's the seat of the president.
And for the men, we want to make sure that if we have a person who's sealed, that they apply a bunch of color for cufflinks.
So we want to be able to change that.
And we, I must say again, we have great reception in our country.
You are television personnel.
It's everyone's passion. .
I would like to give you a special tour of the White House.
It's not as old, not as big as the Crackers.
I think you're very welcome.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.

Also recorded on March 21, 1973

  • 886-009 11:55 AM · 41 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:55 am and 11:57 am.
  • 886-011 12:07 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:07 pm and 12:10 pm.
  • 886-012 12:07 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:07 pm and 12:10 pm.
  • 886-013 12:10 PM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, David Packard, James Roosevelt, John W. Byrnes, William J. Baroody, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:10 pm to 12:35 pm.
  • 886-014 12:36 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Anthony T. ("Tony") Rossi, Acheille Mongelli, Ralph W. Persico, unknown person(s), and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:36 pm to 12:53 pm.
  • 886-015 12:54 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:54 pm to 1:05 pm.
  • 886-016 1:05 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:05 pm and 1:06 pm.
  • 886-017 1:05 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:05 pm and 1:06 pm.

All 62 conversations from March 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 886-010, March 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/886-010 (accessed November 2, 2026).