Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 840 › Conversation 840-017

Nixon, Bull & Sanchez on Mike Mansfield and People's Republic of China

Saturday, February 3, 1973 · 1:23 PM–1:32 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Sanchez, ManoloConversation840-017 on Tape 840StartSaturday, February 3, 1973 at 1:23 PMEndSaturday, February 3, 1973 at 1:32 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 840-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with staff regarding legislative strategy and foreign policy coordination, specifically concerning Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's interest in visiting the People's Republic of China. Nixon directed Bill Timmons to contact Mansfield to discuss the potential trip and to address the appointment of nominees to an unspecified foreign policy board. Additionally, the President reviewed a list of potential board candidates provided by George H.W. Bush, emphasizing the need for loyal supporters, and prepared for an upcoming meeting with Charles Colson.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, the only thing was that he just wanted to call about two things.
One, he wanted to be sure that Henry raised the question with Joe and I about his journey to China.
He wants to go to China.
And secondly, one, the point was made of the foreign policy.
Well, you can just tell Bill.
Bill can tell him and pick out the resolution, whatever it is.
He can call Mansfield and see what it is, Mansfield office.
I think that Henry, uh, Henry Shaw, man, uh, with the, uh, with the political chair, or with, uh, with, uh, George Bush.
I went through all of them.
George Bush gave me a list.
I have a list of ten suggestions.
to my friend Ford and they must all be able to support us.
They must all be one of the fortunate few ones.
You want to see Colson?
Yeah, that's great.
Yes, yes, sir.

NARA Description

On February 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 1:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 840-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 840-17

Date: February 3, 1973
Time: Unknown between 1:23 pm and 1:32 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with an unknown person.

[Conversation No. 840-17A]
                                               -47-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                               Conversation No. 840-19 (cont’d)

       William E. Timmons’s location

       Telephone call to Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield

Manolo Sanchez [?] entered at an unknown time after 1:23 pm.

       Refreshments

Manolo Sanchez [?] left at an unknown time before 1:32 pm.

       Telephone call to Mansfield
             -Henry A. Kissinger’s trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
             -Mansfield’s trip to PRC
                     -Chou En-Lai
             -Unknown foreign policy group
                     -Nominees appointed by the President
                     -Timmons
                     -Kissinger
             -George H. W. Bush
             -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
             -List of suggestion for board
                     -Supporters
                     -Woman

              Charles W. Colson's meeting with President

Bull left at an unknown time before 1:32 pm.

Also recorded on February 3, 1973

  • 840-013 1:20 PM · 52 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 1:20 pm.
  • 840-014 1:20 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:20 pm to 1:21 pm.
  • 840-015 1:20 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:20 pm to 1:21 pm.
  • 043-020 1:21 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield talked on the telephone from 1:21 pm to 1:23 pm.
  • 840-016 1:21 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:21 pm to 1:23 pm.
  • 043-021 1:23 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 1:33 pm.
  • 840-018 1:23 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 1:32 pm.
  • 840-019 1:32 PM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Claudia A. Johnson, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:32 pm to 1:57 pm.

All 41 conversations from February 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 840-017, February 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/840-017 (accessed October 1, 2026).