← 512-025512-027 →

Conversation 512-026

TapeTape 512StartFriday, June 4, 1971 at 4:44 PMEndFriday, June 4, 1971 at 4:47 PMTape start time04:12:14Tape end time04:14:48ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate the logistics and guest list for an upcoming state dinner honoring West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. Nixon expressed frustration with the size and formality of previous diplomatic dinners, insisting on a larger guest list of approximately 80 people to minimize his personal interaction with attendees. The President directed Butterfield to streamline the event's physical arrangements to ensure a static, less demanding environment for himself.

Willy BrandtState dinnerWhite House logisticsGuest listsDiplomatic events
AudioNARA Description

On June 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:44 pm and 4:47 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 512-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 512-26
Date: June 4, 1971
Time: Unknown between 4:44 pm and 4:47 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield
     President’s schedule
          -Willy Brandt dinner
                -Lucy A. Winchester
                -Charles W. Colson
                -William E. Timmons
                -Clark MacGregor
                -George Meany
                -Number of Attendees
                      -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                      -Physical Arrangements
                -Diplomats
          -Working dinner
                -Henry A. Kissinger
          -Brandt dinner
                -Number of attendees

Butterfield left at 4:47 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I'd like to take a smile with the Willie Brandt over to Lucy.
Do you want to look at this first and spin through the Colson?
One thing that you may want to pass judgment on is Colson thinks Georgia Media ought to be invited.
We didn't invite Brandt in the last year.
Sure.
Sure.
What?
Oh, God, no, I'm not going to have any sex work.
I want at least 80 people.
Hell yes, I don't want those dinners anymore.
I've told all of them at least a dozen times.
I don't want to have to talk to these people.
So what we do is to set up, you know, a nice thing and use it.
How many big chairs do they have?
However many big chairs they have, that's what we'll have for dinner.
You see what I mean?
I see what you mean.
Yeah.
So we'll have to get you some more.
Let's just say, you know, just add some more people.
We can do some more.
You know, that's just a pain in the ass.
I'll have to look at it.
Yeah.
Because I don't want to see that man.
I don't want any of this.
I don't want to worry about that.
I'm not interested in that.
I don't want to hear anything.
You see, I don't want any working cameras.
This is a, just make it to, to be a static camera.
How many chairs do they have?
The big chairs.
See, that's what we do, is I want to use the big chairs and have it static.
But I have 80.
You can't carry 80 people in here, Jesus Christ.
I mean, what is it?
They've got that work up there anyway.
What work do they do?
There's no damn work, huh?
Well, those are the guidelines that came down.
Small, you don't push it in.
All right.
I'm just keeping it in care all the time.
Listen to the silence.
The silence of the senses.
Let's go.
Here we go.
Here we go.
Well, you see, I want to, I want to widely expand my field.
Okay.
← 512-025512-027 →