Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 411 › Conversation 411-003

Nixon & Bull on Communication systems

Tuesday, February 20, 1973 · 3:12 PM–3:13 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 31 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation411-003 on Tape 411StartTuesday, February 20, 1973 at 3:12 PMEndTuesday, February 20, 1973 at 3:13 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 411-003 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417187135 ↗

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly discuss logistical concerns regarding communication equipment, specifically expressing a desire to remove a ten-minute limitation on a 'back line.' The conversation focuses on ensuring the operational efficiency of the President’s telephone or recording infrastructure. No further substantive policy decisions were reached during this brief exchange.

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On February 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:12 pm to 3:13 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 411-003 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 411-3

Date: February 20, 1973
Time: 3:12 pm - 3:13 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Stephen B. Bull.
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                          Conversation No. 411-19 (cont’d)

[See Conversation No. 43-117]

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh, we're able to get the field for something.
That's what I'm going to say again.
I don't want the limitation of 10 minutes on the back line.
That's what I'm going to say again.
  • 043-117 3:12 PM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 3:12 pm to 3:13 pm.
  • 043-118 3:14 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 3:14 pm to 3:17 pm.
  • 411-004 3:14 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:14 pm to 3:17 pm.
  • 411-005 3:17 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:17 pm.
  • 043-119 3:18 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:18 pm.
  • 043-120 3:18 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan talked on the telephone from 3:18 pm to 3:22 pm.
  • 411-006 3:18 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:18 pm to 3:22 pm.
  • 043-121 3:22 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:22 pm and 4:17 pm.

Conversation 411-003, February 20, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417187135). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/411-003 (accessed November 15, 2026).