Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 829 › Conversation 829-001

Nixon, Hughes & Bull on Vietnam War and Operation Linebacker II

Monday, January 1, 1973 · 7:32 AM–9:25 AM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Hughes, James D. ("Don"); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation829-001 on Tape 829StartMonday, January 1, 1973 at 7:32 AMEndMonday, January 1, 1973 at 9:25 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 829-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a personal letter to Major General James D. Hughes to express his gratitude for Hughes’ recent correspondence and offer congratulations on his daughter’s wedding. During the session, Nixon briefly consults with Stephen B. Bull regarding Rose Mary Woods’ schedule and a visit from George H. Allen. The President concludes by reflecting on the bravery of American airmen during the December 1972 bombing campaign in Vietnam and reiterating his commitment to securing an honorable peace through ongoing negotiations.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 24% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
This is Don Hughes, dear Don.
Your very vocal note of December 20 brought back many memories of... the years we have worked together, period.
Paragon.
I could not believe it when Rose told me on the phone that she was going up to New York to your daughter's wedding.
Uh, I knew you might be that old, but I know that it couldn't possibly...
Seriously, I heard a real sequester going on.
It's a long time ago.
Does it seem to be anyone around to do something like that?
No, that's something she has to do here.
Uh, I arranged for the, uh... For, uh...
There's probably not many in the press room.
I have reached such an advanced age, exclamation point.
In any event, please accept the warmest congratulations of the Nixon family on this memorable occasion.
I am tremendously proud of the way that our airmen have carried on
very difficult assignment over the past two weeks or greater.
We can only hope now that we can make progress on the negotiating table.
Our fighting men have fought, have made such great sacrifices that it should be a just and honorable peace in Vietnam.
Alright.

NARA Description

On January 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, James D. ("Don") Hughes, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 829-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 829-1

Date: January 1, 1973
Time: Unknown between 7:32 am and 9:25 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a letter to Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes.

       Thanks for note
            -Memories of working together
            -The President's conversation with Rose Mary Woods
                  -Hughes daughter's wedding
                       -New York
                       -Ages
                              -Mary Elizabeth (“Betty”) Hughes

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 7:32 am.

       Rose Mary Woods' schedule
            -Woods’ work

       Visit by George H. Allen and family
             -Photographs

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:25 am.

The President replayed a portion of dictated letter to Hughes at an unknown time. The President
resumed dictation.

       Hughes
           -Age
           -Congratulations on daughter's wedding
           -Vietnam War
                 -Airmen
                      -December 1972 bombing
                      -The President’s pride
                 -Negotiation
                      -Honorable peace
                                                -2-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on January 1, 1973

  • 829-002 7:32 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Clifford M. Hardin met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-003 7:32 AM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-004 7:32 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Clifford M. Hardin met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-005 7:32 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tom Landry met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-006 7:32 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-007 7:32 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-008 7:32 AM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am.
  • 829-009 9:25 AM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:25 am to 9:35 am.

All 32 conversations from January 1, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 829-001, January 1, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/829-001 (accessed October 10, 2026).