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Conversation 859-001

TapeTape 859StartWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 8:27 AMEndWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 8:40 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and adjust the President's upcoming schedule, including various diplomatic, political, and social commitments. They coordinated logistics for meetings with Pakistani officials, congressional leaders, and civic groups, while evaluating potential speaking engagements such as an education policy address at the National Association of School Administrators convention. Nixon provided guidance on prioritizing these events and delegating administrative details, specifically addressing requests from cabinet members and staff regarding the President's availability.

Presidential SchedulingPakistan-US RelationsEducation PolicyWhite House AdministrationCongressional Relations
AudioNARA Description

On February 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:27 am to 8:40 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 859-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 859-1

Date: February 21, 1973
Time: 8:27 am - 8:40 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       President’s schedule
              -Henry A. Kissinger, William E. Timmons
              -Ambassador Dr. David K. E. Bruce
              -President’s meeting with leaders from Pakistan
                      -Kissinger’s recommendation (March 8 and 9)
                              -President Ali Bhutto
                              -Mustafa Khar
                              -Azid Ahmed
              -Bhutto
                      -Meeting with President
                              -Delay
                                     -US elections
                      -US arms
                      -Political support
                      -President’s previous meeting
                      -Monday and Tuesday
                      -Wednesday
                              -Open day
                      -Thursday and Friday
              -Boy Scouts of America
                      -President’s appearance at convention
                              -Honorary chairman
                              -Scouts’ Report to the Nation
              -Harry S. Dent
                      -Meeting with President
                              -Departure
              -Joe O. Waggoner, Jr.
                               -2-

    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         (rev. Nov.-09)
                                                Conversation No. 859-1 (cont’d)

        -Mardi Gras king and queen reception
        -Cabinet Room
                -Photographs
        -Reasons for meeting
                -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Paul Findley
        -Meeting with President
                -Haldeman’s opposition
                -Reasons
                -Attendance at Congressional supporters’ reception
                -Timmons’s support
                -Atlantic Union
                        -Helmut Sonnenfeldt’s meeting with Findley
        -Scheduling
-Breakfast for Republican Congressional freshmen, leaders
        -Format
                -Press photographs
                -Briefing
-Mayor Walter E. Washington
        -John D. Ehrlichman, James T. Lynn, Dana G. Mead
                -Swearing-in ceremony
                        -Length
-Swearing-in of James Keogh
        -Meeting with President
-Irving Kristol
        -Public Interest magazine editor
        -Ehrlichman’s support
        -Meeting with President
                -Scheduling
-National Association of School Administrators
        -National Convention
                -President's appearance
                        -Ehrlichman's recommendation
                        -Closing session, February 28, 1973
                        -Atlantic City
                        -Scheduling
                                             -3-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. Nov.-09)
                                                              Conversation No. 859-1 (cont’d)

                             -Purpose
                                    -New priorities in education
                                          -Ehrlichman’s views
                                          -Primary and Secondary compared to higher
education
               -William L. Duncan and Robert H. Taylor
                      -Meeting with the President
                             -Photographs
               -Rex W. Scouten
                      -Plans on bowling alley
                      -Meeting with President
                             -Scheduling
               -Governors and wives
                      -National Governors Conference attendees’ dinner
                             -Cabinet and Vice President’s attendance
                             -Number of people
                             -Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Ehrlichman, Charles W. Colson
                             -Tables
                             -Cameras
                             -Entertainment
                                    -Army Chorus
               -Norman Vincent Peale
                      -Speaking engagement
                             -Length

Bull left at 8:40 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

This first event is later on in March, March 8th and 9th.
Kissinger has recommended that we have a 45-minute meeting with President Butoh and Governor Aziz Ahmad, the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan.
The purpose of this is Mr. Aziz Ahmad, the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan.
Butoh apparently is waiting until after the election for an answer on the future of U.S. arms.
You met with him with a mind last March 29th.
Do you want to schedule next Wednesday?
Normally we keep that an open day.
Just move ahead and delay things.
Postpone these other events until perhaps Thursday.
Every year, you as Honorary General of Boy Scouts of America receive the Boy Scouts to their explorers' reports of the nation.
Well, that's a five-minute deal.
That would be a good start.
Harry Dent this Friday for his departure call.
Joe Wagner has requested that you see the Mardi Gras King and Queen and 50th Apprentices.
Something we could do in the cabinet room, just have a press photograph on them again with them.
The only real reason that Bob Baldwin seems to be doing this would be for Wagner.
You did the same thing in 1967.
Yes, sir, that's tomorrow.
Tomorrow at 9.30.
Right.
Congressman Finney has requested attendance at this appointment.
This guy has been appointed to the Atlantic Union.
Baldwin was opposed, said he didn't feel like he should be taking up this much time.
And I want to point out that Paul Finley will be at the congressional supporters' reception tonight.
We can't give who's pushing their sentence.
It's just evidence of timidity.
A request for an appointment to discuss the Atlantic Union.
This is made a recommendation that we have
a breakfast for the congressional GOP freshman and the leaders.
State time, you don't have to hang up.
I have a press photo.
Basically, a brief account that's been on the planet.
One subject.
The idea is to have these people meet with the president, subsequently running a disconnect for a social event.
I'll have to figure that out as well.
Okay.
Harlequin, Lynn, and Dave Meade have submitted an appeal on the swearing-in of Mayor Washington.
We feel that by not having the president swear-in the mayor, it would be... We couldn't do it very quickly.
The date that had been suggested had been...
I don't care.
It's five minutes.
All right, sir.
Do you want to swear in pink?
He's already been sworn in.
All right.
All right.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
All right, sir.
Irving Kristol, editor of Public Interest Magazine, I think you indicated the interest of John Roachman a while back.
John Roachman submitted this.
I think he did this because you were raising it.
Reverend Major, when Earl McLean has submitted a proposal that you go to Atlantic City on Wednesday, February 28th to address the closing session of the National Convention of the American Association of School Administrators.
Wednesday, February 28th.
It could be on another, during another period, but the purpose is to describe to the nation a new approach we're taking in the field of education, what the new priorities in this area are.
John Rodman feels this is a good forum for saying that the emphasis should be on primary and secondary education rather than higher education.
This convention runs from the 24th through the 28th.
The 28th is their closing session.
Now, if you have Monday, Tuesday, fall, obviously, there are other matters in which you're concentrating.
That's Greg Lewis.
I'm going to try to get, uh, Rex, uh, Duncan and Sally today.
If, uh, today or tomorrow, depending on your belly button, you still want to see them.
You still want to see Duncan and Sally.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Rex Gouten has, uh, some plans for the decor for the bowling alley.
Yes.
Plans he can present to you, or I can just send him in, or he can take him up to the house, or I can have him come into the office, or wherever it might be.
It might be a nice show for Alexis to come on over sometime.
Sure.
What is a convenient time for you?
Anytime.
You know, we've got good evening times.
You know, we've got this 11.
We'll do it at 11 today.
Today, tomorrow.
The final thing, when you come to the Governor's Center on the 28th, the governors and their wives have been invited.
Did you want the Cabinet and the Vice President invited?
Well, I'm sorry for the interception.
They're a difficult county.
They need a cabinet.
Not all 50 governors will be here.
Should I hold the cabinet?
We can accommodate.
Oh, I don't have the final acceptances on it, sir.
We don't know what happened.
Yes, we have it.
It's true.
But you can't, you see, we can't have the same thing.
You've got to have a call.
You've got to have a call with her.
You're not having it together.
The point is that the Senate can't be canned, but they've got to check the number of people.
Yes, sir.
We've got to check the number of people.
We've got to check the number of people.
We've got to check the number of people.
We've got to check the number of people.
We've got to check the number of people.
and the vice president.
We're going to have, we're not having after-dinner entertainment.
I guess we're having the Army Chorus.
Relax for a second.
before the governor does.
In order for the appeal to be confirmed, he can pretend.
He has 20 minutes.
He said he compromised.
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