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Conversation 494-009

TapeTape 494StartSaturday, May 8, 1971 at 1:55 PMEndSaturday, May 8, 1971 at 2:40 PMTape start time03:09:38Tape end time03:12:22ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield discussed the administration's political image and the public's perception of his leadership style. Nixon emphasized the necessity of projecting strength and decisiveness to counter narratives of weakness, particularly in relation to domestic policy and law and order. The conversation underscored Nixon's ongoing preoccupation with public opinion polls and the challenge of navigating political optics amidst critical media coverage.

Public opinionPolitical imageLeadership styleLaw and orderPress relations
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 1:55 pm and 2:40 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 494-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 494-9

Date: May 8, 1971
Time: Unknown between 1:55 pm and 2:40 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     President's memorandum
          -Delivery to H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

     [Signing documents]

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 2:40 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

They will discuss it in such a way, an image of indecisiveness and weak leadership.
The bad kind of began to come at this point.
But the nation wants strong, firm, decisive leadership.
That is exactly what we have been providing both foreign and domestic policy to do to our own.
Acres.
Coupled with, uh, very skillful operation.
Press.
I remember a year ago, you were surprised, you know, that despite everything I had said on law and order, that the polls had cheated.
But Teddy Kennedy was stronger on law and order than I was.
That's the kind of problem we have today.
With the possible exception.
Where, of course,
The issue is mostly devised to be strong, almost as many negatives as it can positives, although less than the greatest mistake to be, as far as public opinion is concerned.
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