Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 280 › Conversation 280-021

Nixon & Butterfield on Cabinet meeting and John Connally

Thursday, September 23, 1971 · 3:30 PM–3:31 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 40 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation280-021 on Tape 280 (tape position 02:44:05–02:44:44)StartThursday, September 23, 1971 at 3:30 PMEndThursday, September 23, 1971 at 3:31 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 280-021 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417184535 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield coordinate the agenda for an upcoming Cabinet meeting scheduled for September 24, 1971. They specifically discuss Secretary of the Treasury John Connally’s role, agreeing that Connally should provide a brief statement regarding the U.S. economic position. The President decides to personally contact Connally to ensure the presentation remains concise, limiting the discussion to ten minutes.

Audio

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NARA Description

On September 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:30 pm to 3:31 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 280-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 280-21

Date: September 23, 1971
Time: 3:30 pm - 3:31 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     Cabinet meeting, September 24, 1971
          -John B. Connally
               -Statement on US position
          -The President's forthcoming call to Connally
          -Discussion
          -Meeting
               -Length

Butterfield left at 3:31 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Thank you.

Quick question on Kevin.

Do you want John Connery to take charge and get his statement on the U.S. position?

Short discussion and that's all.

I'll call on him.

I saw his, he said he don't, he couldn't, he won't take 10 minutes.

Also recorded on September 23, 1971

280-019 2:42 PM · 13 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 2:42 pm and 3:30 pm.
280-020 2:42 PM · 17 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 2:42 pm and 3:30 pm.
280-022 3:31 PM · 6 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 3:31 pm and 4:09 pm.
280-023 3:31 PM · 7 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 3:31 pm and 4:09 pm.
280-024 3:31 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:31 pm to 4:09 pm.
009-142 4:09 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 4:09 pm to 4:13 pm.
280-025 4:09 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:09 pm to 4:13 pm.
280-026 4:13 PM · 18 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 4:13 pm and 4:40 pm.

All 32 conversations from September 23, 1971 →

Haldeman, Connally & Woods on Cabinet meeting and Economic policy June 28, 1971 · 3 min
Nixon phone call with Ehrlichman on Anti-war protests and Civil unrest April 26, 1971 · 10 min
Nixon phone call with Connally on Henry A. Kissinger and Cabinet meeting November 15, 1971 · 2 min
Nixon phone call with Connally on People's Republic of China and Diplomacy February 28, 1972 · 2 min
Nixon & Butterfield on Cabinet Meeting and Phase II Economic Policy November 15, 1971 · 3 min
Nixon & Bull on Haile Selassie and Republican Fundraising May 8, 1973 · 2 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 280-021, September 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417184535). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/280-021 (accessed November 1, 2026).