Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 918 › Conversation 918-009

Nixon & Bull on Henry E. Petersen and Watergate investigation

Tuesday, May 15, 1973 · 8:38 AM–8:42 AM ET · Oval Office · 31 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation918-009 on Tape 918StartTuesday, May 15, 1973 at 8:38 AMEndTuesday, May 15, 1973 at 8:42 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 918-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate a forthcoming discussion with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. The two discussed logistical delays caused by inclement weather and the necessity of ensuring privacy for the meeting. The conversation focused on managing the interaction to avoid premature or public association with grand jury proceedings.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, he's on the way to his office because of the rain.
Hey, look, there's a very bad shattering sign up today, so it'll be 15 minutes.
Perhaps I can just bring them a note.
The operative's not here.
15 minutes in.
Nothing to do with the grand jury, so you'd be concerned about them coming so quietly.

NARA Description

On May 15, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:38 am and 8:42 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 918-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 918-9

Date: May 15, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:38 am and 8:42 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

     Henry E. Petersen’s location
          -Effect of weather

     President’s forthcoming conversation with Petersen
           -Bull’s note
           -Grand Jury
           -Privacy

Bull left at an unknown time before 8:42 am.

Also recorded on May 15, 1973

  • 918-001 7:50 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:50 am and 8:10 am.
  • 918-002 7:50 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:50 am and 8:10 am.
  • 918-006 8:10 AM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:10 am to 8:35 am.
  • 918-007 8:36 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:36 am to 8:37 am.
  • 918-008 8:38 AM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:38 am and 8:42 am.
  • 918-030 8:38 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Nellie L. Yates, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:38 am and 8:42 am.
  • 918-031 8:38 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:38 am and 8:42 am.
  • 121-001 8:42 AM · 58 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Republican Congressional leaders, including Herbert Stein, John T. Dunlop, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, John G. Tower, Norris Cotton, Wallace F. Bennett, William E. Brock, III, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, John B. Anderson, William J. ("Jack") Edwards, John J. Rhodes, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Robert C. ("Bob") Wilson, David T. Martin, Samuel L. Devine, George H. W. Bush, Roy L. Ash, John D. Ehrlichman, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., William E. Timmons, Richard K. Cook, Thomas C. Korologos, Ronald L. Ziegler, Clifford P. Hansen, Henry L Bellmon, Marlow W. Cook, Dewey F. Bartlett, Delwin M. Clawson, Burt L. Talcott, Harold R. Collier, and Albert W. Johnson, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 8:42 am to 9:38 am.

All 67 conversations from May 15, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 918-009, May 15, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/918-009 (accessed October 1, 2026).