Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 570 › Conversation 570-008
Nixon, Bull & Haldeman on PRC trip and US Economy
Saturday, September 11, 1971 · 1:13 PM–1:56 PM ET · Oval Office ·38 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Stephen Bull, and Charles Rebozo to refine his public schedule and manage ongoing policy initiatives. Key discussions included limiting press access for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, strategies to resolve the ongoing dock strike, and legislative maneuvering regarding the military draft extension. Nixon emphasized the need to prioritize substantive leadership activities over 'cosmetic' public relations events while preparing for Phase II of his economic program.
- PRC trip
- US Economy
- Military draft
- Public relations
- Presidential scheduling
- Dock strike
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On September 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:13 pm to 1:56 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 570-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 570-8
Date: September 11, 1971
Time: 1:13 pm - 1:56 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Stephen B. Bull and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President's schedule
-Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo
Bull left at an unknown time before 1:56 pm.
Schedule
-Lunch
-The President’s forthcoming talk with unknown woman
-Weather
-Camp David
-Boating
Rebozo entered at an unknown time after 1:13 pm.
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 02/18/2020.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[570-008-w001]
[Duration: 21s]
The President’s schedule
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo’s schedule
-Forthcoming conversation with Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
**********************************************************************
Rebozo left at an unknown time before 1:56 pm.
Henry A. Kissinger's schedule
-New York
Press coverage of forthcoming trip to the People's Republic of China [PRC]
-William H. Carruthers and Ronald L. Ziegler
-Technicians
-Crew
-Work Day
-Number of Hours
-Crew
-Number of People
-Press list
-Number
-Ground station for broadcast transmission
-Considerations
-Tokyo, Hong Kong
-Live broadcast feed capability
-News coverage
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-American Telephone and Telegraph [At&t]
-PRC
-Cable link in San Francisco
-Publicity
US Economy
-Cost of Living Council [COLC]
-John B. Connally
-Announcement of follow-up action
-Date
-Time period
-Effectiveness
-Type of announcements
-Stock market
-Charles W. Colson
-Rise
-Bankers
-Lawyers
-Effect
-Haldeman's son
-Bicycle
-Ten-speed
-Example of availability of goods
-Effect of economic action, surcharge
-California
-Washington, DC
-Time period
-Deposit for bicycle
-Current price
-Reasons
-Popularity of item
-Pre-surcharge
-Imported bikes
-Dock strike in Los Angeles
-Dock strike
-Dock worker’s union
-James D. Hodgson, J. Curtis Counts
-Action by the administration
-Dock worker’s union
The Press
-PRC trip
-Number in press entourage
-Kissinger’s view
-Announcement of trip
-Number in press entourage
-Ziegler
-Trip to the PRC
-Trip to the Soviet Union
-Kissinger
-PRC trip
-Type of coverage
-Ping pong picture
-Effect
-Photographs from Kissinger's Peking trip
-Trip to the Soviet Union
US economy
-COLC
-Work
-Connally
The President's schedule
-Trips to the PRC, Soviet Union
-Press
-Limitations on coverage opportunities
-Comparison to Spiro T. Agnew trip
-Lack of activity
-Possibility of trouble
-Briefing backgrounds
Military draft bill
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Meeting with Clark MacGregor
-Military service draft extension Congressional conference report
-Gordon L. Allott
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Possibility of rejection
-New data
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] troop withdrawal
-Possible breakfast meeting between the President and Mansfield
-Time
-MacGregor and Haig
-Kissinger
-Draft extension conference report
-Possibility of defeat of bill
-International negotiations
-Possible implications
-Time
-Kissinger's schedule
-Mansfield
-Possible rejection of bill
-MacGregor
-NATO
-Capitol Hill
-Perceptions
-Election
-Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson
-Military pay bill
-Wage and price freeze
-Draft extension conference bill
-Possibility of defeat
-Draft loss
-Time period
-Possibility of a new conference
-F. Edward Hébert
-John C. Stennis
-Position
-New conference
-Military pay raise
COLC
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Possibility of meeting with state and local government representatives
-Number of meetings
-End of conference
-Time
-Relation to press conference
-Date
-State and local government conference
-Mayors conference
-Executive committee of the Governor's Conference
-Association of county officers
-Number of representatives
-League of Cities
-Meetings with special interest groups
-Ehrlichman
-Analysis
-Value
-Labor unions
-Consumer movement representatives
-Meeting
-Letter
-Implications
-Colson
-Establishment of Citizens Committee
-Phase II
-Freeze
-Voluntary action
-Consumer groups
-Duration of meeting
Public relations
-Meetings with the President
-Time period
-Ehrlichman
-The President's State dinner with the Japanese
-Duration
-Focus on the President's leadership
-Press conference
-Effect of the President's scheduling
President’s schedule
-Winners of World International Bowling Federation Tournament
-Meeting with the President
-Congratulations
-Timing
-Bowling publications compared with other publications
-Pictures
-Time period
-Number of people
-National Highway Week
-Time
-World racing individuals
-Department of Transportation
-Highway safety program
-Briefings by the administration
-Individuals
-Number of people
-Possibility of Blue Room reception
-Receiving line
-Picture
-Remarks
-Safety techniques
-Effect
-Mario Andretti, Andy Granatelli, Parnelli Jones
-Reception
-Comparison to meetings with governors and local officials
-Sir Alexander F. (“Alec”) Douglas-Home
-United Nations [UN] General Assembly
-Meeting with the President
-Foreign Minister Aldo Moro of Italy
-Presidency
-Amintore Fanfani
-Forthcoming election in Italy
-Meeting with the President
-Attendance at General Assembly session
-Meeting with the President
-Scheduling
-Length of meeting
-Press picture
-Douglas-Home
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Date
-Cabinet meeting
-Economic program
-Discussion
-Attendees
-Connally
-Wives
-Length of meeting
-Agenda
-International aspect
-Domestic aspect
-Tax structure
-Charls W. Walker
-Tax structure
-Legislative leaders meeting
-Agenda
-Colson
-MacGregor
-Arnold R. Weber
-Herbert Stein
-George A. Lincoln
Congress
-Action
-Bill before Congress
-Delays or failure to pass
-The President's speech to Congress, September 9, 1971
-Effect
-Reaction
-Arthur F. Burns
Press coverage
-Colson
-Connally
-Press coverage
-Senate
-Potential Presidential candidates on Democrat side
-Effect on actions
-Unknown person's statement or reaction
Events' effect on the President's actions
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 1:16 pm.
President’s schedule
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 1:56 pm.
Speechwriting
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-One liners
The President's schedule
-Funeral of Winston L. Prouty
-President’s attendance
-Answers to press questions
-Funerals of other Senators
-Richard B. Russell
-Everett M. Dirksen
The President's leadership
-Haldeman's schedule
-Colson, Ehrlichman
-Drug issue
Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:16 pm.
[Signing documents]
President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Dog
Bull left at an unknown time before 1:56 pm.
Scheduling of the President's time
-"Open Door Hour"
-Time use
-Telephone calls
Connally
Strategy
The President's schedule
-Camp David
-Announcement
-Drive
-Meetings with groups
-Mayors and governors
-Environmental and transportation issues
-Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
-The President's role
-Agnew
-Other officials
Haldeman left at 1:56 pm.Also recorded on September 11, 1971
- 570-004 12:07 PM · 45 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John B. Connally, Arthur F. Burns, Gerald L. Warren, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:07 pm to 12:53 pm.
- 008-085 12:53 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 12:53 pm.
- 570-005 12:53 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:53 pm and 12:56 pm.
- 570-006 12:56 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:56 pm to 12:59 pm.
- 570-007 12:59 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Paul W. McCracken met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:59 pm to 1:13 pm.
- 571-002 1:38 PM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:38 pm and 2:58 pm.
- 571-011 1:38 PM · 12 sec — Alexander P. Butterfield and Terry L. Decker met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:38 pm and 2:58 pm.
- 570-009 1:56 PM · 46 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:56 pm and 2:18 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 570-008, September 11, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/570-008 (accessed September 18, 2026).