Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 456 › Conversation 456-006

Nixon & Butterfield on White House entertainment and Bob Hope

Tuesday, February 23, 1971 · 11:30 AM–11:36 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation456-006 on Tape 456 (tape position 01:42:30–01:44:50)StartTuesday, February 23, 1971 at 11:30 AMEndTuesday, February 23, 1971 at 11:36 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 456-006 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield discussed the logistical arrangements for upcoming White House entertainment featuring the group Up With People and comedian Bob Hope. The President outlined his preferences for the program flow, specifically regarding the timing of his own stage appearances and the formal introductions of the performers. The conversation served to clarify the President's public engagement expectations to ensure the event proceeded according to his desired schedule.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 49% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So when I did have them, if he was a second time career, he would come and introduce the entertainment.
He would come and see Up With the People as the first number, the first act.
Or 1829.
And they'd bring a whole bond with their last number, thanks to the memories and so on.
So he would introduce the evening's entertainment.
And they'd shoot both groups, but...
It wouldn't require you to get up again unless you wanted to.
If you wanted to, they could still play their last number, thanks for the memories.
If hope comes out, you can still get up again.
No, no, no.
He comes right out.
He comes right out.
I didn't mention hope then.
Yes, you did mention it at the beginning.
Yes, you mentioned both groups of people.
But they bring him on, and he does know this plan.
It's agreed to, but we can certainly...
Whatever he wants, it's fine.
I don't care if he dies.

NARA Description

On February 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:30 am and 11:36 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 456-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 456-6

Date: February 23, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:30 am and 11:36 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield

     The President’s schedule
          -White House entertainment
               -Introduction by the President
                      -Up With People
                      -Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope
                      -President’s view

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 11:36 am

Also recorded on February 23, 1971

  • 456-005 10:05 AM · 1 hr 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), John D. Ehrlichman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Henry A. Kissinger, Manolo Sanchez, and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:05 am to 11:30 am.
  • 456-007 11:36 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Milton R. Young, Mark Andrews, Lee W. Huebner, unknown person(s), and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:36 am to 11:48 am.
  • 456-008 11:48 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:48 am.
  • 456-009 11:49 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John R. ("Jack") Williams, Jr., John D. Ehrlichman, Lee W. Huebner, White House photographer, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:49 am to 12:02 pm.
  • 456-010 12:02 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John B. Waters, Jr., Patsy (Temple) Waters, Cynthia Waters, John B. Waters, III, John D. Ehrlichman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Lee W. Huebner, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:02 pm to 12:06 pm.
  • 456-011 12:06 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:06 pm to 12:07 pm.
  • 456-026 12:06 PM · 10 sec — Stephen B. Bull and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:06 pm and 12:16 pm.
  • 048-001 12:16 PM · 49 min — President Richard M. Nixon and the President's Science Advisory Committee, including Dr. Edward E. David, Dr. John D. Baldeschwieler, David Z. Beckler, Dr. Ivan L. Bennett, Jr., Dr. Detlev W. Bronk, Dr. Solomon J. Buchsbaum, Dr. Theodore L. Cairns, Dr. Lee A. DuBridge, Dr. Val L. Fitch, Dr. Herbert Friedman, Dr. Richard L. Garwin, Dr. Murray Gell-Mann, Patrick E. Haggerty, Philip Handler, Dr. Hubert Heffner, Dr. Donald F. Hornig, Kenneth Harry Olsen, Dr. Herbert A. Simon, Dr. Lloyd H. Smith, Jr., Dr. Gerald F. Tape, Dr. Harland G. Wood, Dr. John Truxal, and Frank R. Pagnotta, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 11:59 pm.

All 27 conversations from February 23, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 456-006, February 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/456-006 (accessed September 18, 2026).