Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 911 › Conversation 911-020

Nixon, Foley & Heerensperger on President's Cup Regatta and Ceremonial events

Thursday, May 3, 1973 · 11:11 AM–11:14 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Foley, Thomas S.; Heerensperger, David J.; Sterr, William, Jr.; Sterr, William, Sr.; Lucero, James; Hewlett, Frank; Timmons, William E.; Friedersdorf, Max L.; White House photographerConversation911-020 on Tape 911StartThursday, May 3, 1973 at 11:11 AMEndThursday, May 3, 1973 at 11:14 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 911-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Congressman Thomas S. Foley and members of a racing team, including owner David J. Heerensperger, to discuss the President's Cup Regatta. The brief session primarily served as a ceremonial event for introductions and a photo opportunity, during which Nixon praised the team's performance on the water. The President concluded the meeting by presenting the group with presidential gifts and commemorative awards.

President's Cup Regatta
Ceremonial events
Powerboat racing
Thomas S. Foley
Gift presentation

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, this is Congressman Tom Poehler, sir.

All right, we're going to talk to you instead of sitting here after your statements.

So, one...

Yes, sir.

This is Mr. David Hersheyberger, the owner of the drive.

First, congratulations.

Thank you.

Mr. Bill Serafini, your former driver of the boat.

All right.

This is Mr. Bill Serafini, your former driver of the boat.

All right.

This is Mr. Bill Serafini, your former driver of the boat.

All right.

This is Mr. Bill Serafini, your former driver of the boat.

How big a crew is this boat carrying?

Yeah, all right.

Yeah.

We'll get this in Seattle time, but we'll be doing that.

Well, I congratulate you.

I congratulate you.

I should say that I saw the race the other day, and I, I mean, uh, the performance is, you know, flying over this, look at that.

You, I don't know why, but I was playing.

Oh, that was the same race.

That was the same race as our boat.

Your boat was there, you know, when you go around the marina, I mean,

You've got a lovely area over there.

Bad water, great water.

They've got a new boat this year.

A pretty close boat to ours.

We've only got $40,000.

Cool.

Well, I'll give you your presidential cross-links.

That's your award for the person that you want.

This is the President's Seal, right off the fly, in color.

And Mr. Hart will see that each one of you got one.

Okay.

You got a good load there.

NARA Description

On May 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Thomas S. Foley, David J. Heerensperger, William Sterr, Jr., William Sterr, Sr., James Lucero, Frank Hewlett, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:11 am to 11:14 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 911-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 911-20

Date: May 3, 1973
Time: 11:11 am - 11:14 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Thomas S. Foley, David J. Heerensperger, William Sterrett, Jr., William
Sterrett, Sr., James Lucero, Frank Hewlett, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and the
White House photographer.

       Introductions
                                              -30-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 911-33 (cont’d)

               -Foley
               -Heerensperger
                       -Owner
               -Sterrett, Sr.
               -Sterrett, Jr.
               -Crew
               -Hewlett

       Photograph
             -Cup presentation
             -Arrangements
             -Seattle Times

       President’s Cup Regatta
              -President’s attendance
              -Potomac River
                     -Conditions
                     -Aerial view
                     -Sequoia

       Boats
               -Cost

       Presentation of gifts and awards by President

Foley et al. left at 11:14 am.

Also recorded on May 3, 1973

911-017 11:01 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:01 am and 11:03 am.
911-018 11:03 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William Brock, Howard H. Baker, Jr., Ronald McMahan, C. E. Waldon, J. W. Beard, Robert Cheeseman, Jack Reese, Alan Wright, Kitty Moon, Horace N. Moore, Mrs. Horace N. Moore, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:03 am to 11:10 am.
911-019 11:10 AM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:10 am and 11:11 am.
911-021 11:16 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Samuel L. Devine, William Mnich, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:16 am to 11:18 am.
911-022 11:18 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:18 am and 11:19 am.
911-023 11:19 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Barry M. Goldwater, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:19 am to 11:24 am.
911-024 11:25 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Edward J. Derwinski, Mabel Liang, Yuan Liang, Mrs. Yuan Liang, William E. Timmons, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:25 am to 11:28 am.
911-025 11:28 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:30 am.

All 42 conversations from May 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 911-020, May 3, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/911-020 (accessed October 5, 2026).