Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 2 › Conversation 002-068

Nixon phone call with Butterfield on Cabinet members and Press conference

Thursday, April 29, 1971 · 10:50 PM–10:57 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation002-068 on Tape 2 (tape position 02:37:01–02:38:27)StartThursday, April 29, 1971 at 10:50 PMEndThursday, April 29, 1971 at 10:57 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 002-068 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield discuss the positive reactions of various Cabinet members, including John Connally, John Mitchell, and Winton Blount, to the President's recent press conference. Butterfield provides an update on the availability of Cabinet officials, noting that many are currently traveling or overseas. Additionally, the pair coordinates the signature of a legislative bill, with the President instructing Butterfield to bring the document to him for review.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Hello.

Yeah, hi.

How are you, sir?

I got a call from Marge Ackerman.

She said you'd want to know what cabinet members called.

I didn't know what it was about.

Yes, sir.

I took the calls from the cabinet members.

Of course, we've got five overseas and seven out of town.

But Conley called from Texas.

John Mitchell called from...

Kentucky.

He's down at the governor's house there, and I guess Rosemary's with him.

And Red Blunt called from Alabama.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, he thought it was great.

He had all kinds of plaudits for you and wanted very much to get through.

In fact, he helped for you.

And then Hardin called, and Richardson and Romney.

Now, sir, I wasn't going to be here in the morning, and I've got one bill that needs to be signed.

I guess we could get you to sign it right after that breakfast, unless you wanted to sign tonight.

I don't suppose you do.

Bring it over.

Just loop them over.

All right, sir.

Yeah, or I'll get Huntsman to do it if I'm not going to be there.

Sure, sure, sure.

Okay, that's good.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On April 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:50 pm and 10:57 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 002-068 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 2-68

Date: April 29, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:50 pm and 10:57 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Alexander P. Butterfield talked with the President.

     Response by Cabinet members to President's new conference
          -Marjorie P. Acker
          -John B. Connally
          -John N. Mitchell
          -Rose Mary Woods
          -Winton M. (“Red”) Blount
          -Connally
          -Clifford M. Hardin
          -Elliot L. Richardson
          -George W. Romney

     Bill signing
           -Jon M. Huntsman

Also recorded on April 30, 1971

002-064 10:31 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:31 pm.
002-065 10:36 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan talked on the telephone from 10:36 pm to 10:39 pm.
002-066 10:39 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Marjorie P. Acker talked on the telephone from 10:39 pm to 10:40 pm.
002-067 10:40 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 10:40 pm to 10:49 pm.
002-069 10:50 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:50 pm and 10:57 pm.
002-070 10:50 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:50 pm and 10:57 pm.
002-071 10:57 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Elliot L. Richardson talked on the telephone from 10:57 pm to 11:03 pm.
002-072 11:04 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 11:04 pm to 11:11 pm.

All 14 conversations from April 30, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 002-068, April 30, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/002-068 (accessed October 12, 2026).