Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 397 › Conversation 397-001

Nixon & Bull on Inauguration and Ceremonial events

Friday, January 19, 1973 · 8:38 AM–8:43 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; [Unknown person(s)]Conversation397-001 on Tape 397StartFriday, January 19, 1973 at 8:38 AMEndFriday, January 19, 1973 at 8:43 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 397-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and an unidentified individual, likely John A. Scali, to finalize logistical details regarding his upcoming second inauguration. The discussion focused on scheduling public appearances, including a symphonic concert and prayer breakfast, as well as managing guest lists and reception duties for the First Lady and other high-profile attendees. The participants coordinated the timing of these various ceremonial obligations to ensure smooth coverage and adherence to the President's inaugural agenda.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 24% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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It's one of the words that I've had quite a few times in some time, and it's a criticism that a lot of people have had fun with, and it's the same thing.
I want you to be aware of it.
I'll let you take those two hours.
That's it.
Well, I understand the doubt.
There are really two parts to this.
You would not go down on the first two parts.
They're having a cast part.
I know.
What would you do with the second part?
That's what I was wondering.
Really, that is a necessary thing.
A lot of the fans are anxious.
For a lot of shots, when we get into the 70s, you know, you feel how things are going.
You also feel like you're going to have to, like, get in this company and go.
You know, you tell us.
Well, I'll see you.
We'll work it out.
Thank you.
Thank you.
... ... ... ... ...
Okay.
Okay.
Dr. Kissinger, he's a great, he's a, I think, he's a great, he's a great, he's a great,

NARA Description

On January 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:38 am to 8:43 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 397-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 397-1

Date: January 19, 1973
Time: 8:38 am - 8:43 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       President's schedule
             -Inaugural activities
                    -Symphonic concert
                         -Guests in Presidential box
                         -Possible remarks by President
                                -Cast party
                                -Performers on stage
                                -Public Broadcasting System coverage

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 8:38 am.

                        -John A. Scali [?]

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 8:43 am.

                         -Possible remarks by President
                         -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
             -William F. (“Billy”) Graham
             -Eisaku Sato
             -Prayer breakfast
                   -Date
             -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
             -Prayer breakfast
             -Cabinet
             -Church service
                   -Rabbi Edward Magnin
                   -Archbishop Joseph Bernardin
                   -Receiving line
                         -Mrs. Nixon
                         -Photograph
                                             -2-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                         Conversation No. 397-1 (cont’d)

                   -Graham
                   -Blue Room
              -Barber
              -Henry A. Kissinger
                   -Location

Bull left at 8:43 am.

Also recorded on January 19, 1973

  • 036-001 9:32 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:32 am.
  • 397-002 9:32 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 9:32 am.
  • 036-002 9:33 AM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 9:33 am to 9:34 am.
  • 397-003 9:33 AM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:33 am to 9:34 am.
  • 397-004 9:34 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:34 am and 9:35 am.
  • 397-005 9:35 AM · 1 hr 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:35 am to 10:55 am.
  • 397-006 10:55 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 11:07 am.
  • 397-007 10:55 AM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 11:25 am.

All 53 conversations from January 19, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 397-001, January 19, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/397-001 (accessed October 11, 2026).