Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 848 › Conversation 848-002

Nixon & Bull on William B. Nolde and Vietnam War

Monday, February 5, 1973 · 8:20 AM–9:03 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation848-002 on Tape 848StartMonday, February 5, 1973 at 8:20 AMEndMonday, February 5, 1973 at 9:03 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 848-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed logistical arrangements for honoring the late Colonel William B. Nolde, the last American combat casualty of the Vietnam War. They weighed the options of the President personally attending the funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery versus sending General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. as a representative to meet the family at the White House. The discussion also addressed the administration's efforts to facilitate a Washington tour for the Nolde family, coordinated in part by Senator Robert P. Griffin.

Audio

Download MP3 · 2.9 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
So in regards to the school, currently we have two options that exist.
We have a final check with Bob Hall, who's currently in here.
And he feels that either one really, either have the family come over here, or as a widow, if I'm sure, in 1912, either have them come over here, or the last minute you go over to the funeral, unannounced, to the burial services.
It's over a part of the cemetery.
It's called the Golden Chapel, which is the church at the edge of the cemetery.
They have a funeral mass there.
It's probably going to take 15 or 20 minutes.
Yes, sir.
And then it's a 10-minute procession down to the grave site.
The burial site is the last one.
You'll probably build them down and be pressed there because it's the last part of the time where it's a ceasefire.
The other option would be just send their representative, General Haig, with a search letter and have him go over here to your office.
One of the things Colonel Nolan wanted to do was, before he died, was to take the family to Washington and see all the various sites.
We're arranging for that now quickly.
Senator Griffin had him up at the Capitol to take care of the White House.
One of the staff people really is, I think I have him here, Lawrence.
Okay, thank you.

NARA Description

On February 5, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:20 am and 9:03 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 848-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 848-2

Date: February 5, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:20 am and 9:03 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       President's attendance at funeral of Col. William B. Nolde
              -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
              -Meeting with family
              -Funeral service
                       -Arlington cemetery
                       -Ceremonies
                       -Press
                       -The President's representative
                              -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                       -Col. Nolde's last wish
                                               -2-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 848-2 (cont’d)

                            -Tour of Washington for family
                            -Robert P. Griffin
                     -Meeting with President
                            -Location
                            -Timing

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:03 am.

Also recorded on February 5, 1973

  • 848-001 8:20 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:20 am and 9:03 am.
  • 848-003 8:20 AM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:20 am and 9:03 am.
  • 848-005 9:33 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:33 am and 9:36 am.
  • 848-006 9:36 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:36 am to 9:46 am.
  • 848-007 9:43 AM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon, William E. Timmons, and Thomas C. Korologos met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:43 am to 9:59 am.
  • 848-008 9:59 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:59 am and 10:05 am.
  • 848-009 10:05 AM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:05 am to 10:38 am.
  • 848-018 10:38 AM · 12 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:38 am and 11:09 am.

All 38 conversations from February 5, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 848-002, February 5, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/848-002 (accessed October 9, 2026).