Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 590 › Conversation 590-001
Nixon & Butterfield on White House administration and Wine procurement
Wednesday, October 13, 1971 · 8:53 PM–9:05 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield discuss the personal acquisition of premium wines, focusing on specific vintages and bottle sizes to be purchased using the President's personal funds. Nixon requests a detailed price comparison and source information for these vintages, emphasizing his desire for fiscal oversight of the transaction. Additionally, the pair briefly reviews scheduling arrangements for upcoming meetings with James D. Hughes and Mayor Walter E. Washington.
- White House administration
- Wine procurement
- Personal finances
- Presidential scheduling
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On October 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:53 pm and 9:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 590-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 590-1
Date: October 13, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:53 am and 9:05 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/18/2020.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[590-001-w001]
[Duration: 2m 21s]
The President’s request
-Chef
-Purchase of wine
-The President’s account
-Rex W. Scouten
-Bordeaux
-Size of bottles
-1966
-Three brands
-Size of bottles
-Prices
-Purchasing source
-Rex W. Scouten
-The President’s intention to purchase
-1955-1959
-Cost differences between 1966, 1955 and 1956
-The President’s request for list
**********************************************************************
The President's schedule
-James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Dr. Walter R. Tkach
-Walter E. Washington
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:05 am.Also recorded on October 14, 1971
- 011-086 9:00 AM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 9:00 am to 9:12 am.
- 592-001 9:00 AM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:00 am to 9:12 am.
- 011-087 9:13 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone from 9:13 am to 9:14 am.
- 592-002 9:13 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:13 am to 9:14 am.
- 011-088 9:14 AM · 6 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 am and 6:06 pm.
- 011-089 9:14 AM · 23 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 am and 6:06 pm.
- 011-090 9:14 AM · 1 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 am and 6:06 pm.
- 011-091 9:14 AM · 5 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:14 am and 6:06 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 590-001, October 14, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/590-001 (accessed October 14, 2026).