Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 297 › Conversation 297-041
Nixon & Butterfield on Child welfare policy and Presidential veto
Friday, November 12, 1971 · 2:40 PM–2:41 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·10 min
AI Summary
President Nixon consults with Alexander P. Butterfield regarding a pending piece of legislation involving child welfare and family policy. Nixon expresses a firm philosophical objection to government-run child-rearing and explicitly states his refusal to sign the bill. He further discusses Secretary Elliot Richardson’s position on the matter, ultimately resolving to find a pretext to veto the legislation while maintaining his public stance.
- Child welfare policy
- Presidential veto
- Elliot Richardson
- Family policy
- Legislative strategy
Audio
This clip was extracted from the full tape recording by Easy Nixon.
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Position in tape: 02:12:08 – 02:22:00
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On November 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:40 pm to 2:41 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 297-041 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 297-41
Date: November 12, 1971
Time: 2:40 pm – 2:41 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.
The President's schedule
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 3:55 pm.Also recorded on November 12, 1971
- 617-012 2:26 PM · 1 hr 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Stephen B. Bull, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler, Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield, Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford, Milton R. Young, Allen J. Ellender, George H. Mahon, Frank T. Bow, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 3:36 pm.
- 014-084 2:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 2:36 pm to 2:38 pm.
- 297-040 2:36 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:36 pm to 2:38 pm.
- 014-085 2:38 PM · 4 min — John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:38 pm and 11:59 pm.
- 297-042 2:41 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:41 pm and 3:55 pm.
- 297-043 2:41 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:41 pm and 3:55 pm.
- 297-044 2:41 PM · 54 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 2:41 pm and 3:55 pm.
- 297-045 2:41 PM · 21 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 2:41 pm and 3:55 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 297-041, November 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/297-041 (accessed September 18, 2026).