Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 852 › Conversation 852-009

Nixon, Henley & Bull on Birmingham News and Presidential photography

Wednesday, February 7, 1973 · 12:22 PM–12:26 PM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; White House photographer; Henley, Wallace B.; Henley, Laurie; Henley, TravisConversation852-009 on Tape 852StartWednesday, February 7, 1973 at 12:22 PMEndWednesday, February 7, 1973 at 12:26 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 852-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Wallace B. Henley and his family in the Oval Office to express personal appreciation for Henley's service and the support received from the Birmingham News. The session included formal photographs and a brief discussion regarding the Henley family's background and their connection to the administration. Nixon concluded the meeting by presenting the family with presidential gifts before transitioning to discuss his upcoming schedule with Stephen B. Bull.

  • Wallace B. Henley
  • Birmingham News
  • Presidential photography
  • White House hospitality
  • Public relations

Audio

Download MP3 · 4.9 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello there, how are you?
Nice to see you.
My auntie's here, and children.
Hi, Lori.
We're glad to meet you.
Pretty good.
And, how are you?
Just the same as you said.
Well, we, uh, we'd better get a picture of you here, you know, if your patients would like to do that.
Let's all go over here.
Let's all grab a picture.
Good paper.
I remember he talked to me once about Utah and how much we appreciated their support for our cancelling.
They're a great auditorium.
We'll continue to get it.
They believe in the right thing.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
That's our home.
But I heard that the reception had their arm was supposed to be moving.
Oh, I guess it was straight ahead.
No, no, they are all there on the street afterwards.
You know, I'm sure you're going to go on there.
That's a great part of our mission, basically.
Well, I certainly feel like that.
I haven't had any of those before.
You've been an active member of the president's committee.
Yes, sir.
I've been a member of the committee for a long time.
The president has four of us.
Each of you has had a picture of what was sent.
It's not one for each of you.
And one for each child.
When you grow up, you tend to like to have them.
And for the family, this is a presidential passion right now.
You don't smoke.
They're your friends, ain't you?
Okay, thank you.
We're so glad to have you.
We wish you luck.
Did you have fun?
Yeah.
Aren't those singers, those girls really good?
They are so good.
Well, thank you for taking the time to be here, and now I have a message for the message.
Thank you so much.
I see.
Ryan Merrick Good Earl, he's been around since 1996.
He served his first work in the Texas campaign.
Hasn't the best man since 18 headed up the Vice President's tour?

NARA Description

On February 7, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, White House photographer, Wallace B. Henley, Laurie Henley, and Travis Henley met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:22 pm to 12:26 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 852-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 852-9

Date: February 7, 1973
Time: 12:22 pm-12:26 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mr. and Mrs. Wallace B. Henley, Laurie Henley, Travis Henley, and
Stephen B. Bull; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Introductions
              -Children

       Photographs

The White House photographer left at an unknown time before 12:26 pm.

       Henley family
                                               -34-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                          Conversation No. 852-9 (cont’d)

               -Birmingham, Alabama
               -President's appreciation
                      -Job performance
               -General Counsel
               -Birmingham News
                      -RC Cola
                      -Support for President
                               -Editorials
               -Birmingham
                      -Hometown
               -White House service
               -Photographs
               -Presidential gift
                      -Ashtray
               -White House entertainment
                      -Singers
                      -Chinese girl
               -Appreciation

Henley et al. left at 12:26 pm.

       President's schedule
              -Meeting with J. Roy Goodearle and family
              -Background
                      -Texas
                      -Advance man
                      -Vice President’s tour

Bull left at 12:26 pm.

Also recorded on February 7, 1973

  • 852-008 12:21 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:21 pm to 12:22 pm.
  • 852-010 12:26 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, White House photographer, J. Roy Goodearle, Mrs. J. Roy Goodearle, Sarah Goodearle, Harold Goodearle, Ellen Good, and Doris Good met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:26 pm to 12:29 pm.
  • 852-019 12:26 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:26 pm.
  • 852-011 12:29 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, White House photographer, E. Pendleton James, Julie James, and Rob James met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:29 pm to 12:33 pm.
  • 852-012 12:33 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House photographer, W. Richard Howard, Patrick E. O'Donnell, and Mrs. Patrick E. O'Donnell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:33 pm to 12:36 pm.
  • 852-013 12:36 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:36 pm and 12:40 pm.
  • 852-020 12:40 PM · 1 min — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:40 pm and 3:10 pm.
  • 043-037 12:41 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 12:41 pm.

All 28 conversations from February 7, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 852-009, February 7, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/852-009 (accessed October 12, 2026).