Nixon White House TapesTape 781 › Conversation 781-027

Nixon, Butterfield & Bull on Congressional relations and Henry Kissinger

Monday, September 18, 1972 · 1:12 PM–1:25 PM ET · Oval Office ·3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  Bull, Stephen B.Conversation781-027 onTape 781StartMonday, September 18, 1972 at 1:12 PMEndMonday, September 18, 1972 at 1:25 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 781-027 ↗

President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and Stephen Bull to coordinate logistics for an upcoming congressional leaders breakfast. The participants discussed the guest list, specifically determining that Henry Kissinger should lead the discussion on military appropriations. Additionally, they evaluated the suitability of the Oval Office versus the Executive Office Building for future meetings based on scheduling and the atmosphere for the President's upcoming appointments.

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I think it's good for him to be there.
Come in.
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it.
It's our thing to say that.
So if you'd rather than him.
Yeah, because we had signed that pay instead of Bryce Harlow.
I think it should be Henry.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Right.
Military appropriation.
Henry is the one that should.
Yes, sir.
Since the remainder of your afternoon appointments are to be unannounced, would you like to conduct
I don't believe he has this present.
That's a good point.
I haven't thought of that.
This office probably lend itself better to this background area as far as holding it here.
Although, yeah, it might be more relaxed for you.
Oh, yeah.
We're all far out.
See if Henry gets through.
He's in.
He's out to lunch.
He's fine.
He's in.
Have you come over for dinner?

On September 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 1:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 781-027 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 781-27

Date: September 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:12 pm and 1:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

             Congressional leaders breakfast, September 19, 1972
                -Henry A. Kissinger

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:12 pm.

                 -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                 -Bryce N. Harlow
                 -Congressmen
                 -Military appreciation
                 -Kissinger

             The President’s schedule
                 -Kenneth W. Rietz
                 -William E. Brock
                 -Executive Office Building [EOB] office
                     -Elliot L. Richardson, James D. Hodgson

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 1:25 pm.

                     -Theodore H. White
                     -Rietz, Brock
                 -Kissinger

Bull left at an unknown time before 1:25 pm.
  • 781-022 1:00 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:00 pm to 1:09 pm.
  • 781-023 1:09 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 1:09 pm.
  • 781-024 1:09 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at 1:09 pm.
  • 781-025 1:10 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:10 pm to 1:12 pm.
  • 781-026 1:12 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 1:25 pm.
  • 781-028 1:12 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 1:25 pm.
  • 358-010 1:25 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 358-011 1:25 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 2:30 pm.

Conversation 781-027, September 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/781-027 (accessed September 18, 2026).