Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 3 › Conversation 003-194

Nixon phone call with Butterfield on John B. Connally and Camp David

Monday, May 31, 1971 · 2:26 PM–2:27 PM ET · White House Telephone · 32 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation003-194 on Tape 3 (tape position 04:40:58–04:41:44)StartMonday, May 31, 1971 at 2:26 PMEndMonday, May 31, 1971 at 2:27 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 003-194 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Alexander P. Butterfield to encourage Treasury Secretary John B. Connally to visit Camp David for rest due to concerns regarding Connally's health. Butterfield was directed to facilitate the logistics of the trip, including coordinating helicopter transportation for the following day. Nixon specified that while the offer should be extended, no further report back to him was required.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Yes, sir.
I don't know whether he can do this, but I know Connolly has a very bad and tell him that I would strongly urge the day that he go up to Camp David with his wife and that it's all tomorrow as he can.
Okay, sir, fine.
Now, also offer the helicopter schedule tomorrow, but if the schedule's late enough, you could go up and still cut it off.
Okay, it's only 2.25.
The late third is open for him.
All right, sir, I'll do it.
You don't need to report to me, but just offer it to him.
I certainly will.
Fine.
Right away, yes, sir.

NARA Description

On May 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-194 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 003-194

Date: May 31, 1971
Time: 2:26 pm - 2:27 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield.

[See Conversation No. 254-009]

     John B. Connally

     Health
          -Possible trip to Camp David
               -Call from Butterfield
               -Logistics

Also recorded on May 31, 1971

  • 003-193 2:25 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 2:25 pm.
  • 254-008 2:25 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 2:25 pm.
  • 254-009 2:26 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm.
  • 003-195 2:27 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-010 2:27 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-011 2:27 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-012 2:27 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.
  • 254-013 2:27 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 5:38 pm.

All 50 conversations from May 31, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 003-194, May 31, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/003-194 (accessed October 12, 2026).