President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and later spoke by phone with Senator John C. Stennis to discuss the public and political reception of the President's March 4, 1971, press conference. The participants focused on the effectiveness of the President's performance in defending the military operation in Laos and managing negative media coverage. They agreed on the importance of maintaining a firm stance regarding the Vietnam War despite unfavorable public opinion polls. Additionally, the President arranged for the dissemination of a private letter to British Prime Minister Edward Heath and discussed scheduling a family portrait session.
On March 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, and John C. Stennis met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:40 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 462-007 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 462-7
Date: March 5, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:15 am and 10:40 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield
The President’s schedule
-Herbert Stein
-Forthcoming meeting with the Quadriad
Papers for President’s signature
Rose Mary Woods entered at 10:20 am
Butterfield left at 10:20 am
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-President’s statement to television audience
-Paul W. Keyes
-Call to Woods
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 9s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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-President’s statement about William P. Rogers
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-President’s demeanor
-Lillie and Bill Strauther [?]
-Response
-Melvin R. Laird
-Call to Woods
-Winton M. (“Red”) Blount’s dinner
-Rogers, Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Call to Woods
-Rockefeller
-Call to President
-John C. Stennis
[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:20 am and
[Conversation No. 462-7A]
Call to Stennis
[End of telephone conversation]
[Unintelligible]
President’s press conference
-Call from [Forename unknown] Lockhart
-Key Biscayne
-[Robert D.?] Bob Murphy
-Possible call from President
-Note from President
-Wife
-President’s preparation
-Call from Laird
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 21s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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[The President talked with Stennis between 10:28 am and 10:30 am]
[Conversation No. 462-7B ]
President’s press conference, March 4, 1971
-Stennis’ call to Woods
-President’s position
-Public opinion polls
-Withdrawal
-Laos
-Military situation
-Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
-Laird
-Laos (Lam Son)
-Effect
[End of telephone conversation]
President’s call to Stennis
Vietnam
-Public opinion
-Media influence
-Influence of President’s press conference
-Woods’ view
[Unintelligible]
Copies of a letter to Edward R. G. Heath
-Dissemination
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Walter H. Annenberg
-Rogers
Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
-A Sunday church service photo
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 5s ]
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-A previous photo
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon
A television appearance
-Eisenhower, T. Nixon, President and Mrs. Nixon
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 38s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
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Woods left at 10:40 amThis 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.