Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 158 › Conversation 158-022

Nixon phone call with Bull on Harry S. Truman and Memorial service

Friday, December 29, 1972 · 5:12 PM–5:15 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation158-022 on Tape 158StartFriday, December 29, 1972 at 5:12 PMEndFriday, December 29, 1972 at 5:15 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 158-022 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 648452565 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consults with Stephen B. Bull regarding the logistical and protocol requirements for the upcoming memorial service for Harry S. Truman. Drawing on past precedents from the Eisenhower and de Gaulle funerals, the President emphasizes the importance of properly managing the reception for attending heads of state. Nixon directs Bull to ensure that all necessary arrangements are coordinated, specifically tasking him with providing a recommendation for hosting a formal reception following the service.

Harry S. Truman
Memorial service
Funeral protocol
Heads of state
Diplomatic reception
Stephen B. Bull

Audio

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NARA Description

On December 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:12 pm to 5:15 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 158-22

Date: December 29, 1972
Time: 5:12 pm - 5:15 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Stephen B. Bull.

[See Conversation No. 237-29]

       Harry S. Truman’s memorial service
            -Reception
                  -Dwight D. Eisenhower’s funeral
                        -Official representatives
                              -Gen. Charles A. J. M. de Gaulle
                  -Arrangements
                        -State Department
                        -Col. Richard T. Kennedy’s office
                              -Henry A. Kissinger
                        -Eisenhower’s funeral
                        -The President’s schedule
            -Location
                  -Eisenhower’s funeral
                        -Washington National Cathedral
            -Truman’s funeral
            -Heads of state
            -De Gaulle’s funeral
                  -The President’s attendance
                  -Reception by Georges J. R. Pompidou
            -Arrangements
            -State Department
                                               -29-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 67% 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.

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You may recall that when President Eisenhower died, I had to do an election for the safety of the political representatives.

You know what I'm talking about here?

Remember, we have to do all and all the others, of course, can't do that.

But we have to do everything for all of the other representatives, not just someone in the family or in the White House.

But do you recall that's what we did?

No.

I don't think anybody's done anything about this.

Have you heard anything about this?

I've heard absolutely everything.

But if you didn't have to do the street check, you know, you know, they've got to run a few days.

I think you probably heard that you can have the

my guess is that i should do it you haven't had a check personally i just want to know what it is

at the time of the Island Park incident.

Alright, we're going to get back to you, sir.

I don't, I, you don't need to get back to me at all.

I'm, uh, I'm going to be here on the trip, so they can make sure there are times where I'm being taken about.

There's one thing that is more likely different than the cable, and that is quite different in that case.

Basically, that day was a funeral.

Right.

I understand.

At that time, that funeral was held in the name of the people.

And in this case, the General's already been held at the Memorial Center.

But nevertheless, the number of heads of state, I mean former heads of state,

So it may be that it would be effective immediately thereafter.

I recall, for example, when I went over to Galls, the funeral was to possibly give a reception for everybody.

And after the funeral and that too, obviously it is different than that.

But you can possibly want to give a reception and people will work on it and give it a recommendation.

OK. All right, good.

Fine.

I'll go ahead and have a .

Thank you.

Also recorded on December 29, 1972

158-020 5:06 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:06 pm.
158-021 5:06 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:12 pm.
237-026 5:06 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 5:06 pm.
237-027 5:06 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:12 pm.
237-028 5:06 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 5:12 pm.
237-029 5:12 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 5:12 pm to 5:15 pm.
158-023 5:15 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:15 pm and 5:20 pm.
237-052 5:15 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:15 pm and 5:20 pm.

All 63 conversations from December 29, 1972 →

Nixon, Colson & Warren on Harry S. Truman and Memorial service January 2, 1973 · 2 min
Nixon & Bull on Harry S. Truman and Memorial service January 2, 1973 · 2 min
Nixon & Bull on Harry S. Truman and Memorial service January 2, 1973 · 5 min
Nixon & Bull on Harry S. Truman May 8, 1971 · 3 min
Nixon, Haldeman & Ziegler on Public Relations and Press Relations March 17, 1971 · 1 hr 22 min
Nixon & Bull on Heads of state and Taiwan January 4, 1973 · 3 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 158-022, December 29, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 648452565). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/158-022 (accessed October 29, 2026).