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Conversation 494-006

TapeTape 494StartSaturday, May 8, 1971 at 1:35 PMEndSaturday, May 8, 1971 at 1:40 PMTape start time02:56:22Tape end time03:00:20ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to review routine administrative paperwork and discuss recent public opinion polling regarding the Vietnam War. They analyzed shifts in approval ratings and the significance of undecided voters in the context of recent war demonstrations. The discussion concluded with a brief review of documents requiring the President’s signature.

Public opinion pollsVietnam WarAdministrative proceduresWhite House operationsPresidential approval ratings
AudioNARA Description

On May 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:35 pm and 1:40 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 494-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 494-6

Date: May 8, 1971
Time: 1:35 pm - unknown before 1:40 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     Papers for signature

     Rose Mary Woods

     [Unintelligible]

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 1:40 pm.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

It's a little better before the press spread.
It's the three points left.
Both the support end on end.
All right.
Disapproved.
I am inclined to think that, in the same approval of the war, it was 48-41 after the press conference, which was a seven-point spread.
Now it's 46-38, which is an eight-point spread now.
And once that you've gained them.
But that's because the war demonstrators haven't gone.
Yeah, let me say that I think the, I think the little thing proved the disapproval of that.
That high number of undecided, you would not have that high of an undecided in a commercial poll, do you think so?
Yeah, I've stopped that once in a while, you know, too.
Very often.
And we don't usually, we usually go, you know, there's about 14, you know, just as long as I've decided to move in our direction.
I think so.
Now that he, he's been deposited.
And when I met, yeah, they're all, so he said, even if I had decided to be pushed, they would move more in our direction than the other direction.
See how much weight he had gained.
There I am.
Well, it says Dr. Lee or something.
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