Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 829 › Conversation 829-026

Nixon & Bull on Harry S. Truman and Memorial services

Tuesday, January 2, 1973 · 9:03 AM–9:28 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation829-026 on Tape 829StartTuesday, January 2, 1973 at 9:03 AMEndTuesday, January 2, 1973 at 9:28 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 829-026 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the White House's official response and the President's level of participation regarding the upcoming memorial service for Harry S. Truman. Nixon instructed Bull to bypass speculative public statements and instead develop a concrete, simplified plan for his attendance. The President emphasized that the official press response, to be funneled through Deputy Press Secretary Gerald Warren, should present a unified strategy rather than highlighting a lack of invitation or personal intent.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Apparently, Jerry has got information on it.
He asked this morning, he said the person was asking you, what do I intend to do with it?
What is my participation in the Truman thing?
You better get on it right away.
Of course, I'm asking.
Nobody's asking.
Who is handling it in this office, anybody?
Yes, sir, I am.
Go.
Go.
And don't even say it.
Don't put it in terms that I don't want to or I don't intend to or haven't been asked to.
Just say that this is a plan.
We want this plan.
It should be a simple car.
Don't put it down.
God damn it.
Find out what it is.
Whatever it is and then put that out to Jerry.
That's what I mean.
But just put it on a plan so that we don't have me making anything on it.
So that I can put it in a possible case.

NARA Description

On January 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 829-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 829-26

Date: January 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 9:03 am and 9:28 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       Harry S. Truman’s memorial service
            -The President’s participation
                  -Gerald L. Warren
                  -Press
            -Bull’s handling
            -Church service
                  -Dean Francis B. Sayre
            -Dwight D. Eisenhower memorial
            -Truman family’s role
            -Warren’s statement

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:28 am.
                                             -31-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on January 2, 1973

  • 035-052 9:03 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 10:15 am.
  • 829-025 9:03 AM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-027 9:03 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-028 9:03 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-029 9:03 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-030 9:03 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 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-039 9:03 AM · 17 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.
  • 829-040 9:03 AM · 9 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:03 am and 9:28 am.

All 52 conversations from January 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 829-026, January 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/829-026 (accessed October 12, 2026).