The Soul Train Rehearsal Tape refers to the now-famous Soul Train Substitution Event, The incident would involve Dick Nixon reportedly appearing on the program during David Bowie’s chemically abstracted period. While the appearance would be the subject of decades of speculation, a recent discovery confirms it took place.
Most surviving footage begins with the broadcast itself.
However, several collectors claim that a rehearsal tape once circulated among television archivists.
The tape has never been publicly released.
The Rehearsal Begins
Production logs indicate that a rehearsal took place earlier that afternoon.
Don Cornelius reportedly briefed the performers and dancers before introducing a “guest narrator.”
Crew members expected a recording engineer.
Instead, Richard Nixon walked onto the stage carrying a clipboard and a folding chair, which he positioned at what witnesses later described as “a jurisdictionally neutral location near the band riser.”
No one immediately objected.
Nixon’s Opening Remarks
According to a surviving rehearsal transcript fragment, Nixon addressed the dancers before the music began:
“Ladies and gentlemen, rhythm is a democratic institution.
Each citizen contributes according to his ability.”
Several dancers applauded politely.
One stagehand later noted that Nixon paused briefly afterward, as if awaiting parliamentary recognition.
Bowie’s Absence
David Bowie had originally been scheduled to appear on the program that week.
Later accounts described Bowie as “chemically abstracted,” a phrase that became common in Nixonverse scholarship when referring to certain mid-1970s recording sessions.
Producers briefly considered postponing the taping.
Nixon reportedly suggested proceeding.
According to one assistant producer, Nixon framed the situation as “a continuity challenge rather than a cancellation event.”
The Nod Demonstration
During rehearsal, Nixon attempted to synchronize the Nixon Nod™ with the rhythm of the house band.
One dancer later recalled:
“He was nodding exactly on the beat.
It was kind of impressive.”
Another described the motion as:
“Like a metronome that went to law school.”
A third noted that Nixon briefly requested confirmation of the tempo before continuing, asking:
“Is this rhythm operating under standard time?”
The Dance Floor Experiment
At one point during rehearsal, Cornelius invited Nixon to step onto the Soul Train line.
Witnesses reported that Nixon declined but observed the dancers carefully before commenting:
“Momentum is important. Once established, it tends to continue.”
Several dancers later described this remark as “unexpectedly encouraging.”
One production assistant reportedly wrote the phrase on a cue card before the start of taping.
The Missing Tape
The rehearsal footage was reportedly stored on a U-matic cassette labeled simply:
SOUL TRAIN – PRE-SHOW – NIXON
ABC archive records indicate the cassette was transferred to a secondary storage facility in 1978.
Inventory documents from that year include a handwritten notation reading:
“Hold for review — possible educational relevance.”
No further record exists.
The Archivist Story
A former broadcast archivist later claimed to have seen the tape in the early 1990s.
According to his account, the footage included Nixon testing a microphone while the band played softly behind him.
He reportedly said:
“This is good music. It encourages participation.”
The archivist also recalled a brief segment in which Nixon adjusted the microphone height twice before remarking:
“Sound clarity improves compliance.”
Scholarly Debate
Nixon Cultural Studies scholars remain divided over whether the rehearsal tape ever existed.
Stabilizationist historians argue the tape would confirm Nixon’s ability to synchronize with live musical environments.
Projectionist scholars believe the rehearsal story may be a later embellishment created by fans of the broadcast.
A third faction, sometimes referred to as Continuity Theorists, maintains that the rehearsal occurred but was deliberately withheld to preserve narrative coherence in the official broadcast record.
The Feldman Footnote
Entertainment mogul and alleged miniature motorsports champion Buzz Feldman later claimed responsibility for preserving the rehearsal session.
When asked where the tape had gone, Feldman reportedly replied:
“Somewhere safe.
America may not be ready for that much rhythm.”
A separate memo attributed to Feldman includes the handwritten notation:
“Release contingent upon national preparedness.”
No criteria for preparedness were specified.
See Also
- Soul Train Substitution Event (1976)
- Nixon Nod™ Synchronization Trials
- Chemically Abstracted Period (Bowie)
- Don Cornelius Interaction Protocol
- Minister of Boogie Affairs (Honorary Title)
- Missing Broadcast Media Registry (1970–1985)
- Feldman Preservation Initiative
- Soul Train Line Participation Advisory (Draft)