Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 518 › Conversation 518-002

Nixon, Butterfield & Ziegler on White House logistics and Event planning

Saturday, June 12, 1971 · 10:23 AM–10:25 AM ET · Oval Office ·47 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation518-002 onTape 518 (tape position 00:05:29–00:06:15)StartSaturday, June 12, 1971 at 10:23 AMEndSaturday, June 12, 1971 at 10:25 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 518-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met briefly with Alexander P. Butterfield and Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate his daily schedule and review logistics for an upcoming event. The discussion centered on final preparations for a White House lawn ceremony, specifically addressing the weather forecast and the physical appearance of the site. The participants ensured that all arrangements were set to proceed as planned for the day's activities.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I just wanted to check with you in order for you to say that you're in your office this morning.
Sure.
Looking forward to the day and I looked it over and so forth.
Got a little color for him.
Nice one.
It really looks beautiful in it.
I don't see any.
I think the weather's going to hold to it.
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On June 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:23 am to 10:25 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 518-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 518-2

Date: June 12, 1971
Time: 10:23 am - 10:25 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield

     President’s schedule

Butterfield left at 10:23 am

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 10:24 am

     The President’s schedule

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/19/2019.
[Personal Returnable]
[518-002-w001]
[Duration: 16s]

     Wedding preparation
         -Lawn appearance
         -Weather

******************************************************************************

Ziegler left at 10:25 am

Also recorded on June 12, 1971

  • 005-019 10:16 AM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 11:17 am.
  • 518-004 10:16 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 11:17 am.
  • 518-001 10:20 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:20 am to 10:23 am.
  • 518-003 10:32 AM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:32 am to 11:11 am.
  • 005-020 11:17 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 11:17 am to 11:19 am.
  • 518-005 11:17 AM · 57 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:17 am to 11:19 am.
  • 518-006 11:19 AM · 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:50 am.
  • 518-007 11:50 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:50 am and 12:12 pm.

All 27 conversations from June 12, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 518-002, June 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/518-002 (accessed September 18, 2026).