Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 639 › Conversation 639-021

Nixon & Bull on Smithsonian Institution and Press relations

Saturday, December 18, 1971 · 5:28 PM ET · Oval Office · 33 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation639-021 on Tape 639 (tape position 02:05:52–02:07:35)StartSaturday, December 18, 1971 at 5:28 PMEndSaturday, December 18, 1971 at 5:28 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 639-021 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate logistics for the President's upcoming visit to the Smithsonian Institution's 'Superstar' exhibition. The discussion focused on the departure timing, transportation arrangements, and the involvement of First Lady Pat Nixon. They also established guidelines for communicating with the press regarding the event.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, sir.

I'll be going to the Superstar.

We can park there about 8-6 o'clock.

6 o'clock is on the latest weekend.

Johnston, I will.

Yes, sir.

And, uh, you can inform the press that they can get involved with the Superstar.

All right.

NARA Description

On December 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 5:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 639-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 639-021

Date: December 18, 1971
Time: 5:28 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     President's schedule
           -Smithsonian Institute
                 Departure
                 -Timing
                 -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                 -Press
                 -Car

Bull left at 5:28 pm.

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on December 18, 1971

639-025 5:03 PM · 1 hr 32 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jerrold L. Schecter, Hugh S. Sidey, Hedley W. Donovan, Henry A. Grunwald, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:03 pm to 6:35 pm.
639-015 5:05 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and 5:12 pm.
639-016 5:05 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and 5:12 pm.
639-017 5:05 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and 5:12 pm.
639-018 5:12 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:12 pm to 5:20 pm.
639-019 5:20 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:20 pm and 5:26 pm.
016-118 5:26 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 5:26 pm to 5:28 pm.
639-020 5:26 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:26 pm to 5:28 pm.

All 52 conversations from December 18, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 639-021, December 18, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/639-021 (accessed October 11, 2026).