Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 274 › Conversation 274-012

Nixon & Butterfield on Economic policy and Alexander M. Haig Jr.

Monday, August 16, 1971 · 3:01 PM–3:05 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 59 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation274-012 on Tape 274 (tape position 00:18:58–00:19:53)StartMonday, August 16, 1971 at 3:01 PMEndMonday, August 16, 1971 at 3:05 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 274-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the logistics and scheduling for an upcoming high-level meeting at the State Department. The discussion focused on confirming the attendance of key economic advisors, including John B. Connally, Arthur F. Burns, and Paul W. McCracken, and addressing gaps in the briefing materials. Butterfield assisted the President in refining departure times and initiating a follow-up call to Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to ensure administrative preparations were finalized.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:18:58 – 00:19:53

part A, 19:04

274a.mp3
274b.mp3
274c.mp3

NARA Description

On August 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 3:05 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 274-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 274-12

Date: August 16, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:01 pm and 3:05 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     The President's schedule
          -Forthcoming meeting at State Department
               -Departure time

                      -John B. Connally
                      -Arthur F. Burns
                      -Paul W. McCracken
           -Call to Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 3:05 pm.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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They said not to be late at all.
Because they're actually never late.
Not never late.
We made the world out that good.
Not every one of the other participants.
Secretary Kelly just left for the Burns.
Well, in fact, it wasn't there.
It was there a little later than that.
Well, we don't put our hands up just to let you know that he arrived.
We don't think they're going to be in the pipeline.
Did you try to call her?
Did you want to speak with Hay?

Also recorded on August 16, 1971

  • 274-006 2:43 PM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 2:43 pm.
  • 274-007 2:44 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:44 pm to 2:49 pm.
  • 274-008 2:49 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:49 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 274-009 2:49 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 2:49 pm and 2:54 pm.
  • 274-010 2:54 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:54 pm to 2:58 pm.
  • 274-011 2:59 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Robert H. Finch met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:59 pm to 3:01 pm.
  • 274-013 3:01 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 3:37 pm.
  • 274-014 3:01 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 3:01 pm and 3:37 pm.

All 66 conversations from August 16, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 274-012, August 16, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/274-012 (accessed November 2, 2026).