Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 254 › Conversation 254-009

Nixon & Butterfield on John Connally and Transportation

Monday, May 31, 1971 · 2:26 PM–2:27 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 17 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation254-009 on Tape 254 (tape position 01:23:08–01:24:10)StartMonday, May 31, 1971 at 2:26 PMEndMonday, May 31, 1971 at 2:27 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 254-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs Alexander P. Butterfield to arrange expedited helicopter transportation for Treasury Secretary John Connally, who is suffering from a severe cold. The President emphasizes the need for speed to ensure Connally arrives at his destination by the mid-afternoon. No further reporting is required once the logistics are confirmed.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Hello?
I don't know whether he can do this, but I know Connelly has a very bad cold.
You call him, and tell him to, uh, get the helicopter going so he can get up there as fast as he can.
He's down there by 3.30 or 3.00.
You don't need to report to me, but just call me.

NARA Description

On May 31, 1971, 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. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 254-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 254-9

Date: May 31, 1971
Time: 2:26 pm - 2:27 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield

[See Conversation No. 3-194]

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.
  • 003-194 2:26 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone 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 254-009, 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/254-009 (accessed September 26, 2026).