Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 588 › Conversation 588-001

Nixon & Bull on John A. Volpe and Aldo Moro

Monday, October 11, 1971 · 11:25 AM–11:31 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation588-001 on Tape 588 (tape position 00:00:55–00:03:13)StartMonday, October 11, 1971 at 11:25 AMEndMonday, October 11, 1971 at 11:31 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 588-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen Bull met to finalize scheduling and logistical details for an upcoming meeting with John A. Volpe and Aldo Moro of the Sons of Italy. The President emphasized a strict time limit of ten minutes for the event and instructed Bull to ensure the interaction remained focused solely on the presentation of awards. To facilitate the proceedings, Nixon decided to present the group with presidential paperweights as gifts.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 56% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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We've got to get, uh...
It's about that baby's business.
I don't want to be involved.
The question we're going to do is, this meeting with Laura, Mr. President, is to invite Laura to remain on Sons of Italy for that presentation.
And just indicate with me.
I'll come in at 12 o'clock.
Just indicate that this group is here.
All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.
The main thing, I'm not concerned about tomorrow's trip, Steve.
He's got to have his time.
I am concerned about both these people taking more than their 10 minutes, you know what I'm saying?
Now, that's understood as fiction, right?
Just presentation of this award sheet, and then we'll get them out.
What did you get?
Well, let's say last time they took one of your ashtrays and they gave you one.
I'll give them the paperweights.
I'll give them the money club.
What do they do, sir?
They go up with less than 12 people.
All these people have the... Are these the same ones?
Yes, sir.
Okay, they'll be having the paperweights.
Yeah, we'll give them the one with the name on it first.

NARA Description

On October 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:25 am and 11:31 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 588-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 588-1

Date: October 11, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:25 am and 11:31 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     The President's schedule
          -John A. Volpe
          -Aldo Moro
          -Sons of Italy
               -Moro’s possible attendance
               -Scheduling
               -Gift presentations

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:31 am.

Also recorded on October 11, 1971

  • 011-028 10:28 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 10:28 am to 10:30 am.
  • 287-007 10:28 AM · 49 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, Manolo Sanchez, Walter R. Tkach, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:28 am to 11:25 am.
  • 011-029 10:36 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 10:45 am.
  • 011-030 10:36 AM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 10:45 am.
  • 011-031 10:45 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone at 10:45 am.
  • 011-032 10:45 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 12:31 pm.
  • 287-008 11:25 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 11:25 am.
  • 588-002 11:31 AM · 2 hr 39 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Aldo Moro, Edgido Ortono, Henry A. Kissinger, Neil A. Seidenman, Stephen B. Bull, Americo Cortese, Peter Gay, Frank Montemuro, Paul Landi, Nicholas Cipriani, William Cercone, John A. Volpe, Alexander P. Butterfield, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, John N. Mitchell, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:31 am to 2:13 pm.

All 53 conversations from October 11, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 588-001, October 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/588-001 (accessed September 28, 2026).