Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 431 › Conversation 431-007

Nixon & Bull on John C. Stennis and Mississippi

Thursday, April 26, 1973 · 3:35 PM–3:43 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 9 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation431-007 on Tape 431StartThursday, April 26, 1973 at 3:35 PMEndThursday, April 26, 1973 at 3:43 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 431-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate logistics for an upcoming trip to Mississippi involving Senator John C. Stennis and the dedication of a center in his honor. They also discussed scheduling conflicts regarding a potential meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, with the President ultimately deciding to delay any decision until after a significant congressional vote on the economy. The conversation balanced necessary protocol for the presidential visit with the strategic timing of domestic policy outreach.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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All right, come on in.
Senator Stetson's request has been...
He suggested that we fly over a portion of the Mississippi area and include the disaster in this area.
And bring the pool up in there and show you looking at flooded areas.
All right.
Good.
The senator will not be returning with his grant in Washington.
He needs to attend.
That's the complaint.
All right.
Good.
Farewell.
The Chamber of Commerce session, which you mentioned yesterday, was considered a concern.
I just wanted to mention that it appears that Schultz and Stein recommended that you not do it on Monday because you couldn't do it on Monday.
It would be difficult to make a statement to the chamber about the economic position and the economic stabilization act coming up on Monday.
It would be difficult.
So Monday would be out.
Wednesday is out because they're not going to be leaving.
It's just a two-day session.
On Tuesday, there's quite a lot of news.
There's Chancellor Brand coming here.
After Monday, it would be okay to talk about the economic situation.
But in terms of news and public events, I'm not going to go into discussion.
I guess I don't feel that I should do it because of Chancellor Brand.
It turns out that the United States might even be a pretty good one out there.
I don't know what they have.
Yeah, I will one day, but I don't want any leverage.
I don't want to do it this week.
I don't want to do it this week.
I don't want to do it this week.
If you did talk to him, let me...
Monday, I can't do it.
They're pushing hard at the Chamber of Commerce.
Yes, sir.
And people have answers to them.
But Rudy and those people who work in such groups in the Chamber of Commerce, they're obviously very much in favor of you seeing this group.
But there are other factors they're hitting against.
Trying to present an objective.
Well, I'll tell you what you do.
Leave it open.
If I do it, I could do it Monday afternoon today.
Monday afternoon, but Schultz is signed.
He'll let you in on it.
All right, fine.
Don't tell them I'll do it.
I'll just keep it open for Tuesday afternoon.
I'll keep it open.
Look, we've got to wait because of that vote in Congress Monday.
It cannot be done.
Definitely not Monday.
Because I'll be right up until you say what you have to say.
Out of the Mississippi work, you go down.
We're going to add about two, we'll be leaving in about 8.45, like I said, this is Stennis' position on the board of the plane, when we come to the Mississippi area, we're going to be back to the lounge, we're going to be using the new planes, that's where the senator will be, in the lounge, and we'll look out the window, it won't be impressive for a short period of time, but we're going to be out here in the center, looking out the window, and upon arrival,
token of appreciation of the people of Mississippi for your acts of compassion and help in the hurricane of 1969, many shoots on the head, a rash of rain on the way to your neighbor's station, as you drive over, as you drive in the center of your stands, as you drive right into this area where the parade and the dedication set takes place.
Well, they have some remarks they're preparing for.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
They said they're on national defense.
They said they're really on a date.
It's on a commemorative of a black that's still attending this.
Right.
Right.
So they don't expect a long statement, do they, sir?
Yes, sir.
And they are preparing remarks for the text.
Right.
Okay.
I used to speak briefly anyway.
It will be a short parade.
A couple of people will speak frequently, including John Warner.
And it's followed by Senator Stennis' son and nephew, who's a minister of community location.
And then you're going to look at this headstone, which is a black.
Right.
And then Stennis will accompany you out of the airport.
Go ahead.
Yes, sir.
Out of the airport, we are stuck with Artic and Clark Reed.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
and actually the blue agents who will be in the Navy.
We don't worry about that, Tom.
I just wanted you to know about that.
Sure, I know.
They were a little embarrassed when they talked about it.
So I think it will not be a handshake with them.
Yeah.
That will be it.
Then Senator Stannis will be going back to his lunch.
At the present time, he's taking no guests.
All the Congressmen, hopefully, are still going to that lunch.
No one's returning with us.
Not going down with them?
Senator, just Senator Smith.
So that's the, that's the, let the guests go on another.
We don't need to take, most of them are in the case of going to the police next week.
Right.
Good Steve, good job.
I'm on retirement.
On a chamber, you and I will talk about that on Monday after the vote.
Okay.
All right, sir.
Fine, thank you.
Did you want to see John Wilkes in session?
He's obviously the party.
He's going to be the same.
He's going to be very good.
Well, I have no plans right at the moment.
I've got to wait till I clear up some of the things here.
And I'll call them, probably people at 430.

NARA Description

On April 26, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 3:43 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 431-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 431-007

Date: April 26, 1973
Time: 3:35 pm - 3:43 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       President’s schedule
              -Trip to Meridian, Mississippi, for April 27, 1973
                      -Federal disaster funds for flood stricken area
                      -John C. Stennis
                             -Accompaniment on trip by wife and physician
                             -Airplane flight over flooded areas
                             -Press photographs
                             -Return flight
                             -Lunch
              Meeting with Chamber of Commerce
                      -Timing
                             -Conflicts
                             -George Shultz, Herbert Stein
                             -President’s statements on economy
                                     -Economic Stabilization Act
                             -Willy Brandt’s state visit
                             -Press coverage
              -Church service
                      -Annapolis
              -Meeting with Chamber of Commerce
                      -Compared with labor groups
                             -American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
                             Organizations [AFL-CIO]
                                     -George Meany
                             -Special trades Council
                                     -[First name unknown] Norman [?]
                      -Energy [Department?]
                      -Timing

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

                               -Bipartisian Congressional leadership meeting
                                       Foreign aid bill
                                               -Congressional action
                               -Brandt’s visit
                                       -William Baroody, Jr.’s viewpoint
                                       -Timing
                               -President’s statement on economy
                                       -Shultz and Stein
                               -Congressional action
               -President’s visit to Mississippi
                      -Stennis
                               -Wife and physician
                      -Airplane flight over flooded areas
                               -Press coverage
                      -William L. Waller
                               -Appreciation ceremony
                                       -President’s actions after Hurrican Camille
                      -Dedication of John C. Stennis Center
                               -Parade
                               -President’s remarks
                                       -National security
                               -John W. Warner, John Hampton Stennis
                               -Stennis’s nephew
                                       -Invocation
                               -Headston plaque
                      - Airport events
                               -Clark T. Reed
                               -Gilbert Lewis Carmichael
                                       -Vice Chairman
                               -Blue Angels
                               -Carmichael
                      -Luncheon
               -Meeting with Chamber of Commerce
                      -Congressional action
               -Meeting with John D. Ehrlichman

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Bull left at 3:43 pm.

Also recorded on April 26, 1973

  • 431-005 3:00 PM · 38 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 3:00 pm and 3:35 pm.
  • 431-006 3:00 PM · 25 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 3:00 pm and 3:35 pm.
  • 045-009 3:52 PM · 13 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 3:52 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 431-008 3:52 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:52 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 045-010 3:59 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:59 pm and 4:50 pm.
  • 431-009 3:59 PM · 4 hr 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, Richard G. Kleindienst, John D. Ehrlichman, Henry E. Petersen, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:59 pm to 9:03 pm.
  • 045-011 4:50 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone from 4:50 pm to 4:51 pm.
  • 045-012 4:51 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:51 pm and 5:53 pm.

All 73 conversations from April 26, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 431-007, April 26, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/431-007 (accessed October 5, 2026).