Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 17 › Conversation 017-067

Nixon phone call with Butz on Agriculture and Public Relations

Saturday, December 25, 1971 · 10:01 AM–10:02 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butz, Earl L.Conversation017-067 on Tape 17 (tape position 02:48:57–02:51:24)StartSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 10:01 AMEndSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 10:02 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 017-067 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz to exchange Christmas greetings and check on his progress in his new role. Nixon praised Butz's recent media appearances on programs like "Meet the Press" and the "Today" show, encouraging him to prioritize regional broadcasts to reach key farm audiences. The conversation served primarily as a gesture of personal rapport and strategic communication advice.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
I just wanted to be sure you still had your fight on Christmas Day.
And you're in Indiana?
Great.
Great.
That's great.
Well, we just wish you the best.
Yeah, you're beginning to get your feet in the ground, are you?
Yeah.
Well, you've made a few speeches, haven't you?
Yes, I have.
I followed it somewhat.
Wonderful reception.
I was on Meet the Press.
Yes.
Oh, you handled those clowns.
Did you see it?
I didn't get to see it, but I read the transcript.
Yeah.
I don't get... On the Today Show last week, too.
That's right.
Well, you know, the main thing to do when you get out in the country, take all those
shows that are regionally played, they get a bigger play with those farm audiences and some of those, like Cups in it, Chicago, people like that, you know.
Great.
Well, you take them on.
Well, thank you.
And remember that one of those TV things is an awful big rally.
Yeah.
I know it is.
You reach a lot of people.
That's right.
Well, thank you, and our prayers are with you on the important work you're doing.
Well, we just wish you the best, Earl.
Thank you so much.

NARA Description

On December 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Earl L. Butz talked on the telephone from 10:01 am to 10:02 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-067 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 17-67

Date: December 25, 1971
Time: 10:01 am - 10:02 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Earl L. Butz.

     Christmas greetings

     Butz's location

     Butz's family

     Butz's speeches
          -"Meet the Press" and the "Today" show
                -Butz’s appearance on regional shows
                     -Timing

Also recorded on December 25, 1971

  • 017-063 9:45 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 9:45 am to 9:50 am.
  • 017-064 9:53 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Lenore L. Romney, and George W. Romney talked on the telephone from 9:53 am to 9:56 am.
  • 017-065 9:57 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 9:57 am to 9:58 am.
  • 017-066 9:58 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:58 am and 10:01 am.
  • 017-068 10:06 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Claudia A. Johnson talked on the telephone from 10:06 am to 10:08 am.
  • 017-069 10:06 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:08 am.
  • 017-070 10:14 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Frank B. Rackley, and Marguerite Rackley talked on the telephone from 10:14 am to 10:16 am.
  • 017-071 10:16 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:29 am.

All 57 conversations from December 25, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 017-067, December 25, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/017-067 (accessed October 10, 2026).