Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 22 › Conversation 022-121

Nixon phone call with Butterfield on Camp David and Alexander M. Haig Jr.

Wednesday, April 12, 1972 · 3:27 PM–3:28 PM ET · White House Telephone · 51 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation022-121 on Tape 22 (tape position 04:40:03–04:40:53)StartWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 3:27 PMEndWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 3:28 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 022-121 ↗

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield coordinate the logistics for the President's upcoming trip to Camp David, specifically scheduling a meeting with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to occur during the transit. The President sets an approximate departure time of 4:30 pm, contingent on his meeting with John N. Mitchell. Additionally, Nixon provides instructions regarding travel arrangements for staff, including Rose Mary Woods and others, ensuring they have the option to stay behind if preferred.

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Yeah.
Mr. President, Alex Butterfield.
Yeah.
Yes, sir?
I'm having Haig at 432 so I can talk to him on the way up there and back.
He's coming back tonight.
Okay.
So I have the helicopter standby to bring him back after I may.
Okay.
He'll just go up with you?
He'll go up and we'll have a talk after we're up there and then...
Okay.
And then...
It'll be that.
I didn't have your checkups.
Are we leaving about 4.30?
Well, we're trying, yes, if I get through with Mitchell.
Okay, sir.
4.30 is the approximate time.
All right, sir.
Could I add another thing?
Would you talk to, offer to Rose the first opportunity to, refusal to go there if she wants to, Aunt David, but she doesn't have to.
She may want to stay here and fix her clothes.
No problem.
All right.
Anybody can go.
Yates is fine, or the little girl with her name, Beverly, is fine.
All right, well, they've already got...

On April 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone from 3:27 pm to 3:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-121 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 22-121

Date: April 12, 1972
Time: 3:27 pm - 3:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield.

[See Conversation No. 330-43]

     The President’s meeting with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
          -Haig’s schedule
          -Helicopter for return trip

     Trip to Camp David
           -Departure time
           -John N. Mitchell
           -Rose Mary Woods

           -Nellie L. Yates
           -Beverly [Kaye?]

The conversation was cut off at 3:28 pm.
  • 022-118 3:20 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:20 pm.
  • 330-039 3:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:20 pm.
  • 022-119 3:23 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 3:23 pm to 3:26 pm.
  • 330-041 3:26 PM · 11 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 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
  • 330-042 3:26 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
  • 022-120 3:27 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:27 pm.
  • 330-043 3:27 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:27 pm to 3:28 pm.
  • 330-044 3:29 PM · 1 hr 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Mitchell, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Manolo Sanchez, Rose Mary Woods, Walter R. Tkach, and Dr. W. Kenneth Riland met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:29 pm to 4:50 pm.

Conversation 022-121, April 12, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-121 (accessed October 1, 2026).