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Conversation 491-029

TapeTape 491StartWednesday, May 5, 1971 at 12:08 PMEndWednesday, May 5, 1971 at 12:11 PMTape start time04:42:50Tape end time04:44:37ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize logistical arrangements for an upcoming Federal Civilian Service awards ceremony. They reviewed the precise protocol for the event, including press positioning, the sequence for introducing honorees such as Samuel M. Cohn, and the choreography for the presentation of awards and photographs. This coordination served to streamline the event's flow and minimize potential disruptions.

Federal Civilian Service awardsEvent logisticsPresidential schedulingPublic relationsWhite House protocol
AudioNARA Description

On May 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:08 pm and 12:11 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 491-029 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 491-29

Date: May 5, 1971
Time: Unknown between 12:08 pm and 12:11 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     President's schedule
           -Federal Civilian Service awards ceremony
                 -Arrangements
                      -Press
                      -Positioning
                      -Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Cohn
                      -George P. Shultz
                      -Presentation of awards
                      -Photograph
                      -Press

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:11 pm.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Mr. President, in order to keep this from getting too much, would you like to just bring some people in, five or so, in terms of war, and just pre-position them, like the press just pre-positioned their photograph, and...
You step out of the room, sir, and then you just come in.
We'll just announce the name of the person, such as Mr. Samuel Cohn.
He is Samuel Cohn and his wife.
And in the case of three of the individual that the department had, Cohn will have to show us his name.
Mr. Cohn, move up here.
No, I stand here.
Oh, do I have your autograph?
Yes, sir.
And we'll just present it to you.
And then after you presented each of the awards, the president took a cool photograph in front of you and said something.
Just a photograph.
And he said, why can't I believe you?
And I said, excuse me?
And he said, does the president say any hard, innocent words?
And he said, no.
All right.
If you'd like to leave this room, just leave it right here.
If you want to use it, you can try that.
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