Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 831 › Conversation 831-001

Nixon & Bull on Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig

Wednesday, January 3, 1973 · 9:40 AM–9:46 AM ET · Oval Office · 6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation831-001 on Tape 831StartWednesday, January 3, 1973 at 9:40 AMEndWednesday, January 3, 1973 at 9:46 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 831-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a comprehensive review of his upcoming daily schedule and manage logistical priorities. The discussion centered on coordinating travel and meeting logistics for Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig, as well as addressing funeral arrangements and various awards ceremonies involving the Teamsters and media organizations. Nixon explicitly directed Bull to clear his schedule of non-essential ceremonial obligations following the upcoming inauguration to reduce his workload.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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If you'd like to check on this.
I checked before you came in.
So yesterday you asked about the status of the community funeral.
Yeah, I understand.
I can't go to our church today.
I was the one who asked for it.
I'm very sorry.
I miss him.
I miss him so much.
I wish that he died.
Okay, we're gonna make something wonderful for the team to do today.
Yeah, pretty cool.
Two years ago, we decided that we shouldn't be willing to truck driver the nearest teamsters, man.
And, you know, now, he seems to understand, of course, because he came up with that whole thing.
It would be a great idea to get a service man for the teamsters.
Well, okay, let's get ready.
We're gonna put it right now, too.
Okay, service man.
Okay, okay.
Don't get me involved in any more of that inauguration.
Is that clear?
There's no need to raise anymore.
I want nothing next week and nothing the week after.
Is that clear?
None of the different veterans, none of the cats and dogs, they should be done after the inauguration.
I really got to get my schedule cleared away.
If I understand this the right way, doing these things.
I've blown the week already, so I don't know.
With regard to the heads of state on Friday, you wanted to start at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
And it seems this man, Cesar, who doesn't travel during the hours of sundown, so he'd like you to come in at 2.
So he'd be on his way to New York.
I'm starting to focus on getting through sooner so that I can have an hour.
for the inauguration of the Green Clean Awards on this.
Klein and Ziegler recommended the Geneva Task Force of American Newspaper Owners and Publishers Association to discuss generally the matter of newspaper ownership in radio, television, and CACV facilities.
I'll see you after the inauguration.
I agree to do that.
He's an old friend.
I'm afraid he's going to make it.
I wish he could, but I'll see you after the inauguration.
Good plan.
I haven't talked with him before, so I don't know.
Look, I'd just like to get a brief paper for where it stands.
But I'll see she.
And I'll see him alone when he comes in.
That's it.
Let me see just a little time.
I have a couple of things I want to ask you about.
Hey, he has another dinner.
Don't bother.
I'll see you in a minute.
He has another dinner at, say, 4.30.
We'll meet.
Okay.
Either way, this suits his convenience.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On January 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:40 am to 9:46 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 831-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 831-1

Date: January 3, 1973
Time: 9:40 am - 9:46 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       Henry A. Kissinger's schedule
            -Timing of return
            -Meeting with the President
            -Plans for the night

       The President's schedule
            -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                  -New York
                  -Award presentation
                  -Kissinger
                  -Dinner
            -Harry S. Truman memorial service
                  -The President’s attendance
            -Driver of the Year
            -Teamsters
                  -Charles W. Colson
                  -Award
            -Further meeting
            -Heads of State
                  -Meeting with the President
                  -Zalman S. Shazar [President of Israel]
                  -Rescheduling
                  -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
            -Post-Inaugural plans
                  -Newspaper ownership task force
                         -Herbert G. Klein
                         -Ronald L. Ziegler
                         -American Newspaper Publishers Association
                         -Ownership of television [TV] and radio stations
                              -Haldeman
                                                -2-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 831-1 (cont’d)

                                  -Colson
                          -John Sheehan
                                  -New York
                                  -Peter M. Flanigan
              -Haig dinner
                    -Timing
              -Kissinger's flight
              -Ziegler
                    -Briefing

Bull left at 9:46 am.

Also recorded on January 3, 1973

  • 831-002 9:46 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:46 am and 9:49 am.
  • 831-003 9:49 AM · 56 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:49 am to 10:50 am.
  • 831-004 10:50 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:50 am and 11:00 am.
  • 831-005 11:00 AM · 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 831-006 11:30 AM · 1 hr 40 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 035-071 1:01 PM · 2 min — Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield, Hugh Scott, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 1:01 pm to 1:03 pm.
  • 831-007 1:05 PM · 55 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:05 pm to 2:00 pm.
  • 035-072 2:00 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:00 pm and 2:48 pm.

All 39 conversations from January 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 831-001, January 3, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/831-001 (accessed October 12, 2026).