On April 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:56 am to 9:13 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 481-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 481-3
Date: April 17, 1971
Time: 8:56 am - 9:13 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 39s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
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H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 8:58 am
The President's meeting with the American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE], April
16, 1971
-Television
-Questions to the President
-Vietnam
-Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr.
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Vietnam and Calley
-Compared with the President's press conference
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:10 am
-Opening question
-Suggested response
-President's responses
-Radio reception
-John N. Mitchell's call to the President
-Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo
-J. Edgar Hoover
-President's responses to questions
-Hoover
-Calley
-Prisoner of War [POW] issue
-Vietnam
-Emmett Dedmon
-Withdrawal
-Residual forces
-Melvin R. Laird
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Withdrawal
-Timing
-Election date
-Communist takeover issue
-Radio audience
-Numbers
-Television broadcast
-Questions Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
-Calley
-Vietnam
-PRC
-Cuba
-Hoover
-Surveillance
-Youth
-Otis Chandler
-Al Capp
-Surveillance
-Police state
-John F. Kennedy administration
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
-Hoover
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Frank Cormier
-"Making news"
-Unknown quip
-Economic indicators
-Retail sales
-Television
-Rostrum
-Use
-Naked microphone
-J. F. Kennedy
-President's style
-J. F. Kennedy's style
-Use of notes
-Naked microphone
-Use
-Questions
-Number
-Length
-President's answers
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-[Dwight] David, II and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Easter discussion
-Possible visit to the PRC
-Personalizing answers
-PRC
-Ping-pong
-Henry A. Kissinger
Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
Haldeman's forthcoming meeting with Kissinger and John A. Scali
-President's possible presence
-Kissinger and Scali
-Relationship
-Frequency of meetings
-PRC
-Scali
-Access to President
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Briefing
-Role
Bull entered at 9:10 am
The President's schedule
-Meeting with George P. Shultz
Peter G. Peterson's memorandum to the President
-Approval
Bull left at 9:12 am
Vietnam
-Withdrawal
-Kissinger's views
-Scali
The President's schedule
-Forthcoming welcome to First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, April
30, 1971
Vietnam
-Possible statement by President
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Withdrawal
-Ping-pong team
Haldeman's forthcoming conversation with Kissinger and Scali
President's schedule
-Meetings
-President, Haldeman, Kissinger and Scali
Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
Haldeman left at 9:13 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.