Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 483 › Conversation 483-009

Nixon, Haldeman & Bull on U.S. Jaycees and Public Relations

Tuesday, April 20, 1971 · 12:37 PM–12:40 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation483-009 on Tape 483 (tape position 01:58:35–02:00:46)StartTuesday, April 20, 1971 at 12:37 PMEndTuesday, April 20, 1971 at 12:40 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 483-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the President's upcoming address to the U.S. Jaycees, emphasizing the need for an optimistic tone to inspire the audience rather than focusing on technical policy details like revenue sharing. They discussed using the event as a strategic opportunity to subtly promote the Supersonic Transport (SST) program. The President stressed that the speech should aim for a "ripple effect" through media coverage rather than a direct, intense confrontation, prioritizing an uplifting message about the country.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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There's still Jack Marsh in the back.
But all of a sudden, our stuff together, they're working on it.
They want to do some work out there, so this kind of huge is delighted with it.
It's exactly the right thing you've got to say to these people, is lift their sights up.
They tend to get bogged down in everything.
You see, Bob, if it finds a way out, all of these people clap, and they get bogged down.
It's a whole drill.
If I get bogged down in just talking about a brand new share in a $16 billion program for this without long getting depressed, it's a dull goddamn subject.
Let's face it.
And you've got to lift them up.
You've got to say, this is a hell of a country.
That's what they need to hear.
You know, and they're whole.
Don't you think so?
Yeah, very much so.
These guys, young guys, need to be to make that show.
Also, it's a good way to sing them on that SSG again.
Yeah.
Just a subtle way.
But they all get that way.
There's too much intensity.
Hold on.
There it is.
Well, that's the one.
You know, I think that's it.
I think that, too, is the way to handle it.
That was not something that should have been on TV.
It should have been covered.
You're going for the ripple effect there, not for the other track.
I can't play it just exactly that way.
Let it ripple.
That's it.
Let's see if we can have the OCS present.

NARA Description

On April 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:37 pm to 12:40 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 483-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 483-9

Date: April 20, 1971
Time: 12:37 pm - 12:40 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     The President’s schedule
          -The President's meeting with US Jaycees
               -Haldeman's conversation with John O. Marsh, Jr.
               -The President's talk
               -Revenue sharing
               -Need for optimistic remarks
               -Jaycees
               -Supersonic Transport [SST]
               -Media coverage
                      -Television

Stephen B. Bull entered and Haldeman left at 12:40 pm.

     The President's schedule
          -Marcel A. Naville

Bull left at 12:40 pm.

Also recorded on April 20, 1971

  • 483-007 11:50 AM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:50 am to 12:15 pm.
  • 483-008 12:15 PM · 54 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:15 pm and 12:37 pm.
  • 483-010 12:40 PM · 27 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Marcel A. Naville, Melchoir Borsinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:40 pm to 1:10 pm.
  • 483-011 1:11 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 1:11 pm.
  • 483-012 1:11 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at 1:11 pm.
  • 483-013 1:12 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:12 pm to 1:25 pm.
  • 483-014 1:25 PM · 17 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:04 pm.
  • 483-015 1:25 PM · 11 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:04 pm.

All 51 conversations from April 20, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 483-009, April 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/483-009 (accessed October 3, 2026).