Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 609 › Conversation 609-005

Nixon & Bull on Josip Broz Tito

Saturday, October 30, 1971 · 9:58 AM–10:05 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation609-005 on Tape 609 (tape position 01:10:09–01:12:58)StartSaturday, October 30, 1971 at 9:58 AMEndSaturday, October 30, 1971 at 10:05 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 609-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull coordinated the logistical details for the upcoming visit of Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito. They reviewed scheduling conflicts regarding the arrival of First Lady Pat Nixon and Mrs. Tito, as well as the timing of helicopter transport and press photo opportunities. Nixon ultimately decided to set the departure time for 11:00 a.m. to streamline the transition and facilitate a controlled photo event on the White House lawn.

Audio

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Position in tape: 01:10:09 – 01:12:58

part A, 1:10:07

609a.mp3
609b.mp3
609c.mp3
609d.mp3

NARA Description

On October 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:58 am and 10:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 609-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 609-5

Date: October 30, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:58 am and 10:05 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     The President's schedule
          -Josip Broz Tito
                -Emil (“Bus”) Mosbacher, Jr.
                      -Helicopter
                -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon, Mrs. Broz
                -Henry A. Kissinger
                -Helicopter
                -Press photo opportunities

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:05 am.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Uh, Mr. President, uh, Mr. President, you see, I'm going to be requesting this in earnest in the years to see you, the attack department, and then maybe take it down.
I mean, we've had a lot of sessions.
All right.
At the conclusion of the meeting, um, the ambassador wants me to recommend the Senate to be appropriate to helicopter investment, you know, in the northern Afghanistan Air Force Base, which you've worked at very well.
So at about 10.30, Mrs. Nixon and Mrs. Bronson come over from the yellow ballroom.
So Mrs. Bronson said, well, can we, it'll take more time than that.
He expects a little more time than that.
I think you better hold them over there.
I think it's, I think we've got to figure this one out.
Who told you it'd be 10.30?
Well, originally.
Well, I mean, that's what we said.
They don't know it.
I know.
Yeah, they said they expected an hour and a half.
And you said this?
Yeah.
Well, anyway.
Well, this is the first thing, Mr. Brodsky.
We may have them.
I think they should remain there.
Yes, sir.
And then the two first ladies would come over.
No, we don't.
Is he going by helicopter?
How's this starting off in the helicopter?
You mean?
All right.
Is it going to be here?
Yes, sir, on the lawn.
At 11 o'clock?
Or at the conclusion of your meeting?
Yeah.
There's one advantage.
The two first ladies over here would give Mr. Franz the opportunity to see your office.
And then the press photograph, they would be taken to interview the four of you.
Coming down between the corridor and between the walkway up towards the south portico.
It would be a colorful picture on the floor on the porch.
Well, let's have the helicopter come in this time of day.
Make it 11 o'clock.
It's going to be shut.
That's true.
We'll just cut off at 11.
All right, sir.
Fine.
And then we'll bring the two first ladies over at that time.
And the four of you can walk down to get in.

Also recorded on October 30, 1971

  • 609-001 8:35 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:35 am and 8:54 am.
  • 609-003 8:54 AM · 1 hr 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:54 am to 9:58 am.
  • 609-004 9:58 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:58 am and 10:05 am.
  • 609-006 9:58 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:58 am and 10:05 am.
  • 609-007 10:05 AM · 1 hr 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Josip Broz Tito, Lijana Tambaca, Alexander Akalovsky, Stephen B. Bull, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, and Emil ("Bus") Mosbacher, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:05 am to 11:12 am.
  • 609-008 11:16 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:16 am to 11:19 am.
  • 609-009 11:19 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:20 am.
  • 609-010 11:20 AM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:20 am to 11:21 am.

All 13 conversations from October 30, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 609-005, October 30, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/609-005 (accessed November 14, 2026).