Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 501 › Conversation 501-020

Nixon & Bull on Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld

Wednesday, May 19, 1971 · 3:45 PM–3:50 PM ET · Oval Office · 24 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation501-020 on Tape 501 (tape position 04:23:41–04:24:19)StartWednesday, May 19, 1971 at 3:45 PMEndWednesday, May 19, 1971 at 3:50 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 501-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with his aide Stephen B. Bull regarding the scheduling of an upcoming meeting with Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld. The President expressed flexibility regarding the timing of the appointment, noting that a meeting the following day would be acceptable if the participants faced scheduling conflicts. Bull was directed to coordinate the arrangements without signaling to the attendees that the President’s schedule was easily adjustable.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I wonder if you could sing us a mention from a song like, comes the day better than tomorrow, if they understand that they have schedules, don't tell her to change them.
Because I can do it tomorrow just as well, but don't tell them.
Sometimes when it's five o'clock today, they've got to come rather than tomorrow.
Tomorrow's they have.
If either one has a problem, tomorrow's just as good.

NARA Description

On May 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 501-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 501-20

Date: May 19, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

      President's schedule
            -Meeting with Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld
                  -Time
                       -Congressional vote

Bull left at an unknown time before 3:50 pm.

Also recorded on May 19, 1971

  • 501-019 3:09 PM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Gerard C. Smith, Gen. Royal B. Allison, Paul J. Nitze, Harold Brown, Llewellyn E. ("Tommy") Thompson, Jr., and Philip J. Farley met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:09 pm to 3:45 pm.
  • 501-021 3:45 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm.
  • 501-022 3:45 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm.
  • 501-023 3:45 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm.
  • 501-024 3:50 PM · 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander P. Butterfield, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry L. Bellmon, John G. Tower, Clifford M. Hardin, John C. Whitaker, Clark MacGregor, and Peter M. Flanigan met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:50 pm to 4:28 pm.
  • 501-025 4:28 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:28 pm and 4:38 pm.
  • 501-026 4:28 PM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:28 pm and 4:38 pm.
  • 501-027 4:28 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:28 pm and 4:38 pm.

All 48 conversations from May 19, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 501-020, May 19, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/501-020 (accessed October 9, 2026).