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Conversation 596-007

TapeTape 596StartTuesday, October 19, 1971 at 12:17 PMEndTuesday, October 19, 1971 at 12:18 PMTape start time02:09:26Tape end time02:10:13ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AudioNARA Description

On October 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:17 pm to 12:18 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 596-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 596-7

Date: October 19, 1971
Time: 12:17 pm - 12:18 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     The President's schedule
          -Forthcoming meeting with National Multiple Sclerosis Society
               -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
               -Press photograph distribution

Bull left at 12:17 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I don't know what it's going to help with, at least to make the picture.
Chinese representation to her, too, so... Well, I can't tell you.
Now, the thing that ought to be done there, I don't know the Chinese name, but that point that I make is that kicking a nation out by a majority vote is a bad precedent.
It is a bad precedent.
It is a hell of a struggle.
They understand that.
They might be nationalists in the U.S. in their general policy.
People can stir up the trail.
That's not what I mean.
And that's an argumentation that fits any formula.
And it also fits, it particularly fits little countries.
Yes, sir.
I say much of the United Nations.
I'm just angry.
I'm excited to throw it out on the majority vote.
Anything else to do today?
No, sir.
No, I understand that Bill Rock took a casualty arrest of 10 minutes every five minutes.
Jesus Christ.
We announced that this morning with these congressmen.
Oh, you did?
We told them that.
Oh, how did that meeting go?
I think it went very, very well.
Actually, most of them were friendly.
I know the list is solid, guys.
But there were about five or six that had been wavering.
Well, I came over for that reason.
I thought to lay it to them.
I got them to, you know, I left the implied threat that, look, I'll take responsibility for this, what happens, and it's going to work.
But basically, if Congress undercuts it, it's going to be damn tough.
And it is.
Have you made that point there?
Yes, sir.
Well, the odd part of it was that your speech this morning just, we led right on up to that point, which only really you could say in terms of the broader picture.
And it just came in.
It was an ideal argumentation.
It was Admiral Moore's side on the military side.
I gave him a little bit on the domestic political side in Saigon and the realities of that thing.
And pointing out that we were succeeding in it, and we had to see it through.
And we were on the verge of success in this.
And it's another thing, too, on the POW thing now.
Let's face it, if you just pass a congressional resolution, and within six months after we get the prisoners back, what in the Christ...
What bargaining position does that give you on the other side?
Not a goddamn thing, except if they want you out in nine months, maybe get out soon.
You know what I mean?
Maybe get a POW sooner.
I think that is no damn good of a POW to do.
Oh, it's a disaster.
It's the worst possible thing you could do.
Just tell them, look, we'll be out in nine months after this.
Maybe it just simply says that we're a weak crowd.
Well, the next thing would be the levels of our support to South Carolina.
Right.
You know, today we would need something like that.
Okay.
All right.
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