Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 850 › Conversation 850-010

Nixon & Bull on State Dinner and King Hussein

Tuesday, February 6, 1973 · 12:48 PM–12:51 PM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation850-010 on Tape 850StartTuesday, February 6, 1973 at 12:48 PMEndTuesday, February 6, 1973 at 12:51 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 850-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed protocol and security arrangements for an upcoming state dinner hosting King Hussein of Jordan. The pair focused on logistics regarding vehicle transport and seating for the official party to avoid potential security risks and crowd management issues. Nixon directed Bull to handle these instructions carefully so that the guests would not be offended by the revised itinerary.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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We gave Mary the smoke and said the instructions were going to be originated

I talked to him on the basis that there were President Bills, who's more taken by the economy, in the ride in a separate car.

And also the ones in the crowd, I think, with the guns and everything.

I think that I would have to keep him in the car.

He'll find his way upstairs in our...

Yes, sir.

If you want to keep him in the car, we can sell it to him on the basis that he won't be offended.

I'm telling him that the president feels that he ought to utilize his talents to take care of the official party and things of that nature.

I think that's better.

He should move basically into, you know, with the official party, you know, messing them up a little bit.

But I haven't.

I can't see...

I already reviewed it.

I had a hold.

It's just the main thing.

It would be best if he came.

And then he and his wife go right into the room and talk to the officials.

And they will then make some of the other guests.

Rather than come upstairs, let's try it that way.

This time we may change it the next time.

But he can't walk in.

The four of us cannot walk in together.

They should invest some of the money.

NARA Description

On February 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:48 pm and 12:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 850-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 850-010

Date: February 6, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:48 pm and 12:51 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
               -Meeting with the President

        Marion H. Smoak
              -Protocol instructions
                     -Riding in automobiles
                     -Official party
                     -President’s forthcoming state dinner with [Hussein, King of Jordan]
              Hussein ibn Talal
                             -Mrs. Smoak
                             -Photograph session

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:51 pm.

Also recorded on February 6, 1973

850-013 12:38 PM · 29 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:38 pm and 12:42 pm.
850-009 12:42 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:42 pm to 12:48 pm.
850-011 12:51 PM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:51 pm to 1:23 pm.
043-031 1:54 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:54 pm and 2:47 pm.
409-008 1:54 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 1:54 pm.
409-009 1:54 PM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:54 pm to 1:55 pm.
409-010 1:55 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:55 pm to 1:56 pm.
409-011 1:57 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:57 pm and 2:47 pm.

All 39 conversations from February 6, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 850-010, February 6, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/850-010 (accessed October 12, 2026).