Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 908 › Conversation 908-022

Nixon & Bull on Watergate and FBI

Tuesday, May 1, 1973 · 4:07 PM–4:16 PM ET · Oval Office · 55 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation908-022 on Tape 908StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 4:07 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 4:16 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 908-022 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed concerns regarding the presence and conduct of FBI guards stationed within White House offices, expressing worry that their visibility might invite negative press speculation among the staff. Nixon emphasized the need for better control over the situation to prevent further rumors or internal unrest. Additionally, the pair coordinated logistics for upcoming appointments, including a scheduled meeting with Roy Ash.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I understand it's all worked out now.
Yes, sir.
I have no paper.
Fine.
A lot of these people in the hall, there's like deviations there and there inside.
So they should see me now.
Yes, sir.
I mean, you stand outside where the whole staff goes by and says, what the hell are we doing?
When they inquire from the guards, do you know what I mean?
Somebody should report it.
I mean, they could put it out in the press and all that sort of thing.
That's terrible.
Of course.
Would you like to see Roy?
Yeah, sure.
Would you like to stay here?
So I've got to say, I know you guys are excited to meet him anyway.
No, no, I'm fine.
I think he'll be here in a minute or so.
Yeah, see you in a bit.
Thank you.
Come over here, please.
Very good.

NARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:07 pm and 4:16 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 908-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 908-022

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: Unknown between 4:07 pm and 4:16 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       Watergate
             -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] guards in offices
                    -Ronald L. Ziegler

       President’s schedule
              -Roy L. Ash

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

               -Spiro T. Agnew

Bull left at an unknown time before 4:16 pm.

Also recorded on May 1, 1973

  • 908-017 3:07 PM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:07 pm and 3:10 pm.
  • 120-001 3:10 PM · 30 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William P. Rogers, George P. Shultz, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Frederick B. Dent, Peter J. Brennan, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, James T. Lynn, Claude S. Brinegar, Roy L. Ash, Anne L. Armstrong, John A. Scali, J. Philip Campbell, Richard G. Kleindienst, William P. Clements, Jr., George H. W. Bush, William E. Timmons, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, Peter M. Flanigan, Ronald L. Ziegler, Kenneth W. Clawson, William J. Baroody, Jr., Richard A. Moore, W. Richard Howard, David R. Gergen, Patrick J. Buchanan, David N. Parker, Frederic V. Malek, Lawrence M. Higby, Bruce A. Kehrli, Stanley S. Scott, Stephen B. Bull, Rose Mary Woods, Arthur J. Sohmer, Lee W. Huebner, Jerry H. Jones, Donald F. Rodgers, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Herbert G. Klein, Thomas C. Korologos, Gerald L. Warren, Andrew T. Falkiewicz, Max L. Friedersdorf, Lyndon K. Allin, Fred F. Fielding, Michael J. Farrell, James H. Falk, Richard M. Fairbanks, III, James H. Cavanaugh, Dana G. Mead, Geoffrey C. Shepard, and C. Gregg Petersmeyer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 3:10 pm and 11:52 pm.
  • 908-027 3:10 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:10 pm and 3:41 pm.
  • 908-019 3:41 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:41 pm and 4:02 pm.
  • 908-020 3:41 PM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:41 pm and 4:02 pm.
  • 908-021 3:41 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:41 pm and 4:02 pm.
  • 908-023 4:07 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:07 pm and 4:16 pm.
  • 908-024 4:16 PM · 1 hr 22 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:16 pm to 5:10 pm.

All 181 conversations from May 1, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 908-022, May 1, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/908-022 (accessed October 5, 2026).