Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 829 › Conversation 829-029

Nixon & Bull on Harry S. Truman and Memorial service

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

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation829-029 on Tape 829StartTuesday, January 2, 1973 at 9:03 AMEndTuesday, January 2, 1973 at 9:28 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 829-029 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to address the lack of clear White House coordination regarding the upcoming memorial service for Harry S. Truman. Concerned by potential confusion and mishandled press inquiries, Nixon questioned why the State Department appeared to be leading arrangements rather than the White House. He directed Bull to clarify the situation and coordinate an official statement to ensure the public understands the nature of the religious service and the planned delivery of a eulogy.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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The way it should have been handled, and I'm kind of surprised it hasn't been, is it very simple.
It should have been made to the crew and family as to what the hell this thing is all about.
And apparently nobody knows around here.
See, this is being handled from the White House, correct?
Are we having a service for this?
We have anything to do with it?
The State Department is working on it.
I know, but this is not the White House.
There's nothing to the State Department, necessarily, anybody about it.
No announcement has been put out as to what service it is.
Well, what is the situation?
Well, I'm trying to find out what official announcements we put out.
So Jerry Warren mentioned that eulogy only within the context of what questions were being, the type of questions.
I don't know.
The answer is, of course, the answer is, well, I do have to ask the State Department, and I'll ask you as the Trump knows that, but we don't get that statements.
You understand?
It isn't a question of whether I'm willing to be, the question is whether I'm
They're relevant.
If the family doesn't answer, they're going to have a religious service.
Correct.
So why is the question being asked?
Jerry, I asked him the question, and I think he was just trying to respond to the question you asked.
What type of questions are being asked?
I think it's pretty well understood that the services are going to be active while the only eulogy will be delivered.
Like we need to say, it'll be a religious service, just say it'll be a religious service, and the only eulogy will be delivered.
You know what I mean?
Something like that.
Well, I think we understand.
I don't really believe it's on our back.
It was more of Jeremy mentioning that question.
I'm kidding.

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 829-029 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 829-29

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 memorial service
            -The President’s participation
                  -Handling
            -Inquiry to Truman family
            -White House staff’s role
            -State Department’s role
            -Public Statements
                  -Gerald L. Warren
            -Press inquiries
                  -The President’s eulogy
            -Religious service
                  -Dean Francis B. Sayre

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

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.
  • 829-026 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.
  • 829-027 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.
  • 829-030 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 829-029, 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/829-029 (accessed October 12, 2026).