Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 859 › Conversation 859-028

Nixon & Bull on Prisoners of War and Staffing and Personnel

Wednesday, February 21, 1973 · 11:19 AM–11:33 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation859-028 on Tape 859StartWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 11:19 AMEndWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 11:33 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 859-028 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate scheduling details, including appointments regarding South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu and various White House events. The conversation focused on managing outreach to the wives of Prisoners of War, with Nixon requesting a comprehensive list of those expressing support. Additionally, they reviewed personnel administration, specifically discussing departure timelines for staff members transitioning to consultant roles or external employment.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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The entire week of the first week of Friday, the 31st on, has to be kept open because of the possibility of keeping all the dates open for the possibility that you visit.

So nothing can be done in that period of time.

March 3rd is March 31st until

Maybe a little confusing.

Tommy and I are both in there.

We're waiting for Alex.

We'll talk about him this weekend.

I'm going to move in there soon, I'm sure.

You'll be on that bus.

I'm sure.

Sorry, no problem.

How many preventive measures, Mr.

Prince, out of the number of POWs have been calling?

And occasionally, I'll leave you alone for a moment.

I've been taking the EUA patients.

I've been taking some

What are they calling?

They're calling to... Why don't you...

Does anybody want to prepare the...

They should prepare for me the people that are calling.

Yes, sir.

I haven't told you the case.

I've been putting some on your desk here.

Basically, what they're doing is expressing the same gratitude.

They have great faith all along that you would not abandon them.

or your husband's, and it's really, most of the time, why don't you just, I should see both, go across with you.

I need to have an entire list there.

So we're trying to, we're starting to take that on.

And it's very interesting, very awesome.

And it's with, of course, you want to put it against my screen and tell me what you're all over.

the God-blessed questions I'm hearing here from all of us.

And that's what it means to me.

Well, one thing, you should get a good vibes and so forth.

I'd like to see a, I think you ought to get a total list on that.

So I need to know what the goal is and why some are not on, why some aren't.

Yes, sir.

We're talking about this and I'm not allowed to say it.

Some people are just not leaving for a while.

They're on a consultant basis, or they're looking to try to find another job, or they're just keeping their mind out of the goodness of their hearts there until they can find a job on the outside.

I know I have a complete list of the assistant secretaries.

I just wanted to take a final look at them.

Just bring in the right people.

I'd like Keogh to go back there.

NARA Description

On February 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:33 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 859-028 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 859-28

Date: February 21, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:19 am and 11:33 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       President’s schedule
              -White House Correspondents Association dinner
                      -Date
                      -Change
              -Nguyen Van Thieu visit
                      -Dates

       Bull’s schedule
               -Tom [?] [Last name unknown]
               -Alexander P. Butterfield

       Prisoners of War [POW] wives
              -Calls to President
              -Names
              -Special telephone line
              -Support for President
              -List for a visit
                      -Gen. Brendt G. Skowcroft
              -Casualties
                      -Ages
              -Statements

       White House departures
             -Lists
                    -Composition
                    -Delays
                    -Consultants
                    -Job search
                    -Assistant Secretaries
                                                -35-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                         Conversation No. 859-28 (cont’d)

                              -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

       Meeting with James Keogh
             -Time change

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:33 am.

Also recorded on February 21, 1973

043-147 11:16 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 11:16 am to 11:17 am.
043-148 11:17 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:17 am and 11:19 am.
859-026 11:17 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:17 am and 11:19 am.
043-149 11:19 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:19 am.
859-027 11:19 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:19 am.
859-029 11:19 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:33 am.
859-030 11:19 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:33 am.
859-031 11:19 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 11:19 am and 11:33 am.

All 88 conversations from February 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 859-028, February 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/859-028 (accessed October 11, 2026).