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Conversation 042-017

TapeTape 42StartTuesday, April 6, 1971 at 11:19 AMEndTuesday, April 6, 1971 at 11:21 AMTape start time00:20:20Tape end time00:21:35ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield reviewed final preparations for an upcoming formal white-tie dinner. They coordinated the protocol for the evening, specifically confirming that the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps would be first in the receiving line and would offer brief remarks in response to the President. The event, supported by the State Department and William B. Macomber, Jr., was structured to follow the precedent set by a previous dinner for African diplomats.

State dinnerDiplomatic protocolWhite House administrationAlexander P. ButterfieldDiplomatic Corps
AudioNARA Description

On April 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone from 11:19 am to 11:21 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 42-17

Date: April 6, 1971
Time: 11:19 am - 11:21 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield.

[See Conversation No. 245-14]

     Arrangement for evening dinner
          -Patterned after African dinner
          -Dean of Diplomatic Corps
          -State Department
                -William B. Macomber, Jr.
          -Protocol
          -White tie
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
Alex, a quick check on the dinner tonight.
My understanding is that we come down alone.
We don't bring the dean down with us or anything like that.
That's correct.
You said no yellow overall group.
We were going to pattern it after the African dinner.
Fine.
All right.
We'll do that.
You come down alone.
He's first in the line.
Who's that?
The dean?
Yes, the dean.
He's the first in line.
And you do make some remarks, and he will respond very briefly.
And he responds?
Yes, sir.
Good.
You see, the Africans did respond.
I wanted to be sure that he had the right to respond.
Yeah, the Liberian responded before, and he knows he's to respond in brief.
And then after that, we just go in and mingle with the crowd for a half hour, and that's it.
That's right.
And we've got the State Department guys and Macomber here to do their thing.
Great.
Yes, sir.
And there's music and so forth during the dinner.
Yes, sir.
White tie.
Yes, sir.
White tie.
Good.
Good.
Good.
All right.
Fine.
I think we're in good shape.
I've got that put together right now.
Great.
Great.
That's fine.
I just wanted to be sure that he was going to respond.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
All right, sir.
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