Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 359 › Conversation 359-016

Nixon, Kissinger & Bull on Vietnam negotiations and Diplomatic security

Saturday, September 16, 1972 · 1:15 PM–1:32 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.Conversation359-016 onTape 359StartSaturday, September 16, 1972 at 1:15 PMEndSaturday, September 16, 1972 at 1:32 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 359-016 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the security and public messaging surrounding upcoming secret negotiations with North Vietnamese officials. They discussed the timing of these meetings in relation to Nixon's IMF speech and his re-election campaign, while also considering how to manage media inquiries and leaks regarding these diplomatic efforts. The pair consulted with Stephen B. Bull regarding the President's schedule to ensure these sensitive discussions remained prioritized and secure.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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and that they were embarrassed that there was a loose man

You just probably think you're right because they want this.

Oh, boy.

Oh, God.

But you know, you might try to think how you can break it down.

But I'm beginning to think, first of all, Bob Haldeman agrees with me in announcing a two-day meeting.

Oh, yes.

It's that in itself.

Oh, yes.

Yeah, sure.

Bobby Schultz of the Nationalist Times had told me that I might be going to prison.

He said, look, my colleague said that he's running a high note in the Senate.

And, you know, under the pretext they've already found a new secure house, I couldn't bother.

I said, I'll find a house next time.

And they said, oh, they found a house, and they can't even get it from here.

They can't even get it from here.

Where have they ever done before?

Oh, that's a lie.

Just so they don't expect anything.

Oh, absolutely.

Absolutely.

You can talk to Dave.

NARA Description

On September 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 359-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 359-16

Date: September 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

             Vietnam negotations

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

                  -Kissinger's trip
                  -Security
                      -Media
                  -Kissinger's conversation with North Vietnamese officals
                  -Future meetings
                      -Timing
                           -The President’s forthcoming International Monetary Fund [IMF]
                           speech
                  -North Vietnam
                      -Settlement
                  -Nguyen Van Thieu
                      -Ellsworth F. Bunker
                  -Announcement of Kissinger’s trip
                      -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                           -Timing
                  -Robert C. Toth’s recent conversation with Kissinger
                      -Los Angeles Times
                      -Kissinger’s recent press briefing
                      -Le Duc Tho
                           -The President’s re-election

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:15 pm.

             The President’s schedule
                 -Forthcoming meeting with Charles W. Colson

Bull left at an unknown time before 1:20 pm.

             Vietnam negotiations
                 -Security
                 -Expectations by Vietnamese
                 -Meetings between US and Vietnamese
                     -Time
                     -Length

Kissinger left at 1:20 pm.

Also recorded on September 16, 1972

780-016 12:50 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:50 pm and 12:58 pm.
780-017 12:50 PM · 56 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:50 pm and 12:58 pm.
780-018 12:50 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:50 pm and 12:58 pm.
780-019 12:58 PM · 15 sec — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:58 pm and 12:59 pm.
359-017 1:15 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm.
359-018 1:15 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm.
211-001 2:31 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.
211-002 2:31 PM · 13 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.

All 36 conversations from September 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 359-016, September 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/359-016 (accessed September 18, 2026).