Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 451 › Conversation 451-001

Nixon, Ehrlichman & Butterfield on Economic policy and Commerce Department

Thursday, February 18, 1971 · 9:47 AM–9:52 AM ET · Oval Office ·5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation451-001 onTape 451 (tape position 00:00:59–00:06:17)StartThursday, February 18, 1971 at 9:47 AMEndThursday, February 18, 1971 at 9:52 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 451-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and Alexander Butterfield to address internal disagreements regarding economic forecasts provided by the Commerce Department. The discussion centered on aligning departmental output with administration messaging and ensuring cooperation from the American business community. Nixon emphasized the need to combat unfavorable media narratives and maintain strict control over the administration’s economic platform.

Economic policy
Commerce Department
Public relations
Corporate relations
Internal administration dissent

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I don't know what the hell...

John, uh...

Four days.

Just got to get a hold of this guy.

One.

I don't know if he's going to make it out of this city.

It's not a plan, but I mean, I don't actually, we're trying to make a smart decision in the art of our economic forecast, and that says the Commerce Department and Berkshire County disagree with it.

About that, we're just not going to have that.

You know, I mean, they disagree, but I don't like all those situations.

There's not an economic position that's part of the economic system.

We don't stand a chance of, you know, threatening to go ahead and have a guy that, I don't think he's going to have fun with us.

I mean, I don't think he's going to have fun with us.

I don't think he's going to have fun with us.

I don't care what it is.

We're going to have to fight this environment.

I've gone as far as to say to a group of businessmen that are cooperating, look, we're not...

... ... ... ... ...

This is a waiting car.

It's a car sign.

And I don't know if you can see it.

It's a car sign.

I did a good job.

Well, I don't think there's anything special about this person.

I've had a lot with him this week, and I'll talk to him about it.

I'll see if you ever cross paths with him.

If you're tired of his skills, I'll tell you about it then.

Or if he's just got a real hard day and can't come home without a glass of milk.

to put out a flag like that.

So we have to go out and say this is what I want to do.

And I agree with that program.

And I'm certainly what it is.

I don't know why it doesn't happen.

NARA Description

On February 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:47 am to 9:52 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 451-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 451-1

Date: February 18, 1971
Time: 9:47 am - 9:52 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John D. Ehrlichman

     Soviet Union
          -European security conference

     Economic forecast
         -Commerce Department
               -Maurice H. Stans
                    -Efforts
                    -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Stans

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 9:50 am

           -American business
               -Cooperation with administration
           -Media coverage

     Ehrlichman’s schedule

Ehrlichman and Butterfield left at 9:52 am

Also recorded on February 18, 1971

451-002 9:52 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:52 am and 9:56 am.
451-003 9:52 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:52 am and 9:56 am.
451-004 9:56 AM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, William L. Safire, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:56 am to 10:09 am.
451-005 10:12 AM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:12 am to 10:30 am.
451-006 10:30 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Mark I. Goode, and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:30 am to 10:36 am.
451-007 11:13 AM · 1 hr 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Emilio Colombo, Neil A. Seidenman, and A. Jose De Seabra met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:13 am to 12:22 pm.
451-025 12:22 PM · 2 min — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:22 pm and 1:09 pm.
451-008 12:40 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:40 pm and 1:09 pm.

All 24 conversations from February 18, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 451-001, February 18, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/451-001 (accessed September 18, 2026).