Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 334 › Conversation 334-043

Nixon, Conniff & Butterfield on Adoption and California laws

Thursday, May 4, 1972 · 2:57 PM–3:03 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Conniff, Ray; Butterfield, Alexander P.; White House photographerConversation334-043 on Tape 334 (tape position 03:59:22–04:02:09)StartThursday, May 4, 1972 at 2:57 PMEndThursday, May 4, 1972 at 3:03 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 334-043 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with musician Ray Conniff and Alexander Butterfield, with Stephen Bull briefly joining to assist with an official gift, to discuss personal matters and express mutual appreciation. The conversation centered on the challenges Conniff and his wife were facing regarding adoption laws in California while attempting to adopt a child. Nixon offered his well wishes regarding the situation and provided an ashtray as a presidential gift to Mrs. Conniff.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 66% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, I'm sorry your wife isn't caught.
I hear all about the fact that you went to California.
Yes, for the little lady.
It's not quite decided yet, but...
Yes, and it's very difficult now because of the abortion laws of Jameson, California.
As you know, they're getting rid of the pill, and they're bailing me out of the bank.
I really don't understand how to keep it that way.
I'm sure this is what you're thinking of, and so it's very difficult for you to go on, maybe.
I feel very fortunate.
I mean, it's just about a year ago.
We had, you know, I used to be a friend of Dr. Pino.
Did you?
Yes, at the work center in Seattle.
Yes, that's the...
Yes, of course.
He said, well, he told them about this thing about, you know, going through this adoption thing, and one of them had community.
Remember, you and I planned.
Yeah.
He's got a lineup, sir.
When we came up on stage, you said, don't you?
That's all right.
All right.
We'll take it for them, too.
So I thought, here's a few that you don't have to take, right?
Well, of course.
That's the point of your daughter.
Her daughter's in there.
Well, we were honored to have you look like White House.
We'll send you the second adoption at the second threshold, as we promised on the field.
Good.
Steve, I won't say my whole thing.
I'm going to work out.
I'm going to get my best of them.
I appreciate that.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 4, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ray Conniff, Alexander P. Butterfield, and White House photographer met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:57 pm and 3:03 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 334-043 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 334-43

Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown after 2:57 pm until 3:03 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Ray Conniff and Alexander P. Butterfield; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Mrs. Emily Jo Ann (Imhof) Conniff
          -Trip to California
          -Baby
          -California adoption laws

     Norman Vincent Peale
         -Visit with the Conniff
               -Best wishes
               -Wishes

     Meeting with Ray Conniff

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 2:57 pm.

     Presidential gift
           -Ash tray
                -Emily Conniff

Bull left at an unknown time before 3:03 pm.

     Ray Conniff
          -Singers

Conniff and Butterfield left at 3:03 pm.

Also recorded on May 4, 1972

  • 023-152 2:51 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard A. Moore talked on the telephone from 2:51 pm to 2:57 pm.
  • 334-041 2:51 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard A. Moore met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:51 pm to 2:57 pm.
  • 334-042 2:57 PM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:57 pm and 3:02 pm.
  • 023-153 3:04 PM · 8 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
  • 023-154 3:04 PM · 31 sec — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
  • 023-155 3:04 PM · 2 min — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
  • 023-156 3:04 PM · 18 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
  • 023-157 3:04 PM · 17 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.

All 48 conversations from May 4, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 334-043, May 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/334-043 (accessed October 9, 2026).