Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 717 › Conversation 717-013

Nixon, Butterfield & Bull on J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson

Tuesday, May 2, 1972 · 11:50 AM–11:51 AM ET · Oval Office ·33 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  Bull, Stephen B.Conversation717-013 onTape 717 (tape position 00:54:54–00:57:30)StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 11:50 AMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 11:51 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 717-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met briefly with aides Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to address logistical matters following the death of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The discussion touched upon the ceremonial handling of the White House flag and the arrangement of materials to be provided to Clyde Tolson. The participants also briefly coordinated upcoming scheduling requirements for Henry Kissinger.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I've done a sure load of wireless flight duty.
Yes, sir.
That's it.
Give it to Tulsa.
If you had the right sign, I would give it to Tulsa.
Client, Tulsa.
As soon as that danger is here, we'll get out of here.
That's an extra table.
I'm going to screw it right out on your side.

NARA Description

On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:50 am to 11:51 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 717-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 717-13

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 11:50-11:51 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull.

      J. Edgar Hoover
           -White House flag
           -Clyde A. Tolson

      Next meeting
           -Attendees
                -Henry A. Kissinger

Butterfield and Bull left at 11:51 am.

[IN NUMBERING CONVERSATIONS, THE NUMBER "14" WAS INADVERTANTLY
SKIPPED]

Also recorded on May 2, 1972

  • 717-010 11:19 AM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:19 am to 11:40 am.
  • 717-011 11:40 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:40 am and 11:42 am.
  • 717-012 11:42 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Vernon A. Walters, Edward Tamm, Lauren Jones, Frederick J. Walters, James Walters, Vincent C. Walters, Mrs. Vincent C. Walters, Richard Walters, Peter Adams, Richard M. Helms, Rose Mary Woods, Walter R. Tkach, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Muriel Hartley, Nancy Ovellette, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:42 am to 11:50 am.
  • 717-015 11:51 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 11:57 am.
  • 717-016 11:57 AM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Erik Emborg, Marshall Frederics, Borge Rosing, Christian Castenskjold, Jens Nicolaisen, J. U. Kari-Neilsen, Hein Christensen, Marius Anderson, Holger Larsen, Ancher Nelsen, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:57 am to 12:06 pm.
  • 717-017 12:06 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:06 pm and 12:08 pm.
  • 717-018 12:06 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:06 pm and 12:08 pm.
  • 717-019 12:08 PM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:08 pm to 12:42 pm.

All 67 conversations from May 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 717-013, May 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/717-013 (accessed September 18, 2026).