President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to discuss the investigation into recent U.S. Capitol bombings and broader concerns regarding the President's public approval ratings. Haldeman reported that Attorney General John Mitchell advised against immediate arrests of suspects to allow for continued surveillance and the gathering of better evidence, despite pressure from J. Edgar Hoover to proceed. The group also evaluated the impact of the Vietnam War and recent military operations on the President’s political credibility, as well as the effectiveness of the President's recent media appearances.
On March 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 7:53 am to 8:02 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 472-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 472-2
Date: March 23, 1971
Time: 7:53 am - 8:02 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield
US Capitol bombings
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 7:53 am
Capitol bombings
-Suspects
-Possible Congressional action
-John N. Mitchell’s view
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Informants
-Surveillance
-Mitchell
-Possible arrest
-Hoover
-Congressmen
-Mitchell
Butterfield left at 7:55 am
Polls
-George H. Gallup
-Approval ratings
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-President’s credibility
-President’s previous interview with Howard K. Smith
-Smith’s questioning
-Vietnam War
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Joseph C. Kraft column
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-The President
-Military actions
-Effect
-The President’s policies
-Cambodian operation
-President’s November 3, 1969 speech
President’s previous interview with Smith
-Format
-John B. Connally
-Future value
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 7:55 am
President’s schedule
-Republican Congressional leaders
-Robert J. Dole
Bull left at an unknown time before 8:02 am
Connally
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 7s ]
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The President and Haldeman left at 8:02 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.