Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 711 › Conversation 711-011

Nixon & Bull on PRC table tennis team and Diplomatic protocol

Tuesday, April 18, 1972 · 11:58 AM–12:04 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation711-011 on Tape 711 (tape position 02:14:49–02:19:18)StartTuesday, April 18, 1972 at 11:58 AMEndTuesday, April 18, 1972 at 12:04 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 711-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the logistics for an upcoming White House visit by the People's Republic of China table tennis team. They discussed the specific protocol for the meeting, including plans for handshakes, translation requirements, and photo opportunities. Nixon emphasized his desire to limit interaction with the American table tennis delegation to maintain the focus on the Chinese guests.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
The first man out there is the head of the delegation.
He doesn't speak any English.
They have it down here that I have to be translated as I go along.
That's not to me.
Most of them don't speak English.
I understand that.
and shake hands with each of the players holding up the microphone to the other side and then return.
And if you want to say something to the head of the delegation who will respond to your remarks, well, go behind the line so that he won't be interfering with the picture.
So it would just be you shaking hands with each of these people.
very very great
You might want to indicate after.
You might want to say, Tony, you spoke in their games, who are the White House, and then you can easily leave.
If you would like to step forward into hell, I don't know.
I want to step forward and shake hands with all the Americans.
Just two of the Chinese deputy ministers and Stingholman.
They bring them over, but just get them up and say, man, I don't want to get involved with a whole hell of a lot of Americans out there, you see.
I don't want to go down.

NARA Description

On April 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:58 am and 12:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 711-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 711-11

Date: April 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:58 am and 12:04 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     People's Republic of China [PRC] table tennis team
          -Tour of White House
                -Tour guide
                     -Tricia Nixon Cox
                     -Michael J. Farrell
                -Arrangements
          -Meeting with the President
                -Handshakes
                -Translations
                -Number of players
                -Photographs
                -The President's remarks
                     -Response
                     -Translation
                           -Charles W. Freeman, Jr.
                           -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
                -John A. Scali's remarks
                     -The President's remarks
          -Tour of White House
          -Meeting with the President
                -American table tennis team
                -Handshakes
                     -Graham B. Steenhoven

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:04 pm.

Also recorded on April 18, 1972

  • 023-018 11:52 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:52 am and 11:56 am.
  • 711-007 11:52 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:52 am and 11:55 am.
  • 711-008 11:52 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:52 am and 11:55 am.
  • 023-019 11:55 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 11:55 am to 11:58 am.
  • 711-009 11:55 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:55 am to 11:58 am.
  • 711-010 11:58 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:58 am and 12:04 pm.
  • 711-012 11:58 AM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:58 am and 12:04 pm.
  • 711-013 12:04 PM · 22 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:04 pm and 12:21 pm.

All 44 conversations from April 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 711-011, April 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/711-011 (accessed October 12, 2026).