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Conversation 900-025

TapeTape 900StartWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 2:58 PMEndWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 3:05 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the presidential schedule, focusing specifically on a proposed meeting with Jewish leaders regarding the status of Soviet Jews. Nixon expressed significant reservations about participating in the meeting personally, fearing it might be unproductive or poorly received. He instructed Bull to consult Henry Kissinger for advice on whether the meeting should proceed without his attendance.

Soviet JewsPresidential schedulingHenry KissingerDiplomacyWhite House administration
AudioNARA Description

On April 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:58 pm and 3:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 900-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 900-25

Date: April 18, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:58 pm and 3:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     President’s schedule
           -Meeting regarding Soviet Jews
                 -Leonard Garment
                 -Henry A. Kissinger

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 2:58 pm.

     President’s schedule
           -George P. Shultz, Arthur F. Burns
           -John D. Ehrlichman

The unknown man left an unknown time before 3:05 pm.

     President’s schedule
           -Meeting with Jewish leaders
                 -Garment
                      -Kissinger
                 -Timing
                                               -36-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. July-2012)

                                                           Conversation No. 900-25 (cont’d)

                 -Kissinger’s view
                 -Possible failure
                 -Camp David
                 -Invitation
                       -Garment, Kissinger
           -Kissinger
                 -Advice

Bull left at an unknown time before 3:05 pm.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

All right, so just in answer to your follow-up question, the only meeting we have as far as, I mean, with the land guard, the guard steward should be at the center.
Now, wait a minute.
I want you to call Kissinger to see whether that's still on.
Yeah, I, uh, it seems that, uh, Schultz?
Well, I don't see it.
Well, who's Byrd?
Byrd, it's got that, yeah.
I knew I was supposed to make a call at 2.15.
If you do a text check at 10, we can see it.
But 10.30 is all right.
I can get back to that time.
Do they think it's worth doing?
Tell Henry that the president put him on the spot.
I don't know whether the meeting is worth having.
All right, sir.
But I would say to you the hassle we had with the leader this morning on this thing.
Does he want the president in the meeting or is it better for him to handle the meeting?
I'd prefer that he handle the meeting, I think, under these circumstances.
without the President, I think.
The President can't go in there and strike down.
Just put it that way.
Tell him if you want to get a message back from him.
I think the meeting should go forward, but I don't think the President should be there.
I don't think the President should go there unless we're sure they're going to accept it.
Fair enough.
No, well, they invited to see me, yes, but they haven't invited to see you.
They haven't invited to see you.
Oh, sure.
Well, then maybe we can't get out of there.
Maybe they... Where did your car go, sir?
No, don't check it with Garmin.
Check it with Kisinger.
Garmin won't be worth a damn on it.
Tell Kisinger to give me some advice on it, say about... Come in at 3.30.
Come in at 3.30.
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