Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 513 › Conversation 513-005

Nixon & Butterfield on Congressional briefing and Blair House

Monday, June 7, 1971 · 4:41 PM–4:46 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation513-005 on Tape 513 (tape position 02:00:18–02:06:11)StartMonday, June 7, 1971 at 4:41 PMEndMonday, June 7, 1971 at 4:46 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 513-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield discussed logistical arrangements for an upcoming bipartisan congressional briefing, focusing on venue constraints and the exclusion of Blair House due to its current unavailability. Nixon mandated a streamlined approach for the associated reception, explicitly restricting the event to drinks only and prohibiting the serving of hors d'oeuvres. Additionally, the pair confirmed that Arthur F. Burns would be included on the guest list for an upcoming dinner honoring Willy Brandt.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 38% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So I think we're going to have to go in the theater for that thing a while.
The player house has a perfect room, but it won't be ready for another 30 days.
Oh, there's no furniture.
Good.
I think I'll have the reception portion over here in the conference room.
I'm going to escape rather than the rest of escape.
Okay.
Is he moving over here to the reception?
No.
Why do that?
I don't think that's a problem.
Just so the residents people
in the library, and the next year they're there.
So that the other staff doesn't do it.
Why don't you talk to Lucy and say, look, I can't have them walk over here.
I'll offer them.
I just want to offer them.
I'll make the drinks myself.
Perhaps there's nothing to it.
Tell them to let the firehouse staff off.
We know they're going to be busy.
I'm going to give him a drink afterwards.
Now, no hors d'oeuvres.
No hors d'oeuvres.
I just want a drink.
We're told it's a very short reception, 40 minutes.
Well, just make it clear that there are no hors d'oeuvres, just drinks.
You'd like a cocktail afterwards, and that's very easy, Jesus Christ.
I could have it, I could do it, but no one can do it.
Just let him do it.
So you can get a drink from over here at any time.
All right.
Well, Dr. Burns, you know, we held up on him on a guest list.
He's on the guest list for Willie Brandon, shall we?
Oh, sure.
Has to be.

NARA Description

On June 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:41 pm to 4:46 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 513-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 513-5

Date: June 7, 1971
Time: 4:41 pm - 4:46 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield

     Bipartisan Congressional briefing
          -Location
                -Blair House problems
                -Alternative to Blair House
                -Reception
                      -Rex W. Scouten
                      -President’s view
                      -Lucy A. Winchester
                            -Refreshments
                                 -Manolo Sanchez

     Willy Brandt dinner
          -Arthur F. Burns invitation

Also recorded on June 7, 1971

  • 004-063 3:23 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:23 pm.
  • 004-064 3:23 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:23 pm and 5:21 pm.
  • 513-003 3:23 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 3:23 pm.
  • 513-004 3:23 PM · 1 hr 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Peter G. Peterson, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:23 pm to 4:10 pm.
  • 513-006 5:04 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:04 pm to 5:07 pm.
  • 513-007 5:07 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at 5:07 pm.
  • 004-065 5:21 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 5:21 pm to 5:22 pm.
  • 513-009 5:22 PM · 46 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:22 pm and 10:13 pm.

All 53 conversations from June 7, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 513-005, June 7, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/513-005 (accessed October 12, 2026).