Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 651 › Conversation 651-002

Nixon & Bull on State of the Union Address and Television Production

Wednesday, January 19, 1972 · 9:32 AM–10:05 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation651-002 on Tape 651 (tape position 00:02:11–00:14:54)StartWednesday, January 19, 1972 at 9:32 AMEndWednesday, January 19, 1972 at 10:05 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 651-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and aide Stephen B. Bull coordinate the technical logistics for an upcoming rehearsal of the State of the Union Address. The President instructs Bull to arrange a test of the new podium and lighting setups in the Roosevelt Room to ensure proper television presentation. Additionally, the pair discusses the delivery of materials from Secretary of State William P. Rogers and routine adjustments to the President's daily schedule.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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See, I'd like to get those, uh, no, I'd like to get those, uh, those two rocks.

I don't want them.

I don't want to see them.

I don't want to see them again.

You see, I don't want them.

They don't have to put them up over there in the other place where they have to be able to test the colors.

But I want to see how they will turn the lights on.

You're referring, of course, to the stand.

The new one.

I had tried it once.

I didn't take it seriously well, but I want to try it once more.

I'll probably use the stand.

I'm going to just hold it up with the lights on so I can see how they are.

Is there anything you can tell me?

Something I'm wrong.

Take a look at both of those things.

Come on.

NARA Description

On January 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:32 am and 10:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 651-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 651-2

Date: January 19, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:32 am and 10:05 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     William P. Rogers
          -Delivery
     The President’s schedule
          -Rehearsal of State of the Union Address
                -Roosevelt Room
                      -Lighting
                           -Television
                      -Podium
                           -Papers
          -Barber

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

Also recorded on January 19, 1972

651-001 9:32 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:32 am and 10:05 am.
651-003 10:05 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:05 am to 10:06 am.
019-005 10:06 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:13 am.
651-004 10:06 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:13 am.
651-005 10:06 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:13 am.
651-006 10:06 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:13 am.
019-006 10:13 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Nelson A. Rockefeller talked on the telephone from 10:13 am to 10:21 am.
651-007 10:13 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Nelson A. Rockefeller met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:13 am to 10:21 am.

All 30 conversations from January 19, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 651-002, January 19, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/651-002 (accessed September 29, 2026).