Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 619 › Conversation 619-025

Nixon, Grassmuck & Butterfield on Robert H. Finch and Campaign history

Tuesday, November 16, 1971 · 12:25 PM–12:28 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Grassmuck, George L.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; White House photographerConversation619-025 on Tape 619 (tape position 02:26:54–02:29:40)StartTuesday, November 16, 1971 at 12:25 PMEndTuesday, November 16, 1971 at 12:28 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 619-025 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with George L. Grassmuck and Alexander P. Butterfield for a brief, informal session that included a photo opportunity and the presentation of gifts. The discussion touched upon personal history, including past campaign experiences and health-related anecdotes from Nixon's time as Vice President. Additionally, the President briefly discussed the political future of Robert H. Finch, emphasizing the importance of his current work before pursuing a potential Senate bid.

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 50% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Well, George, you want to pass me?
Yes, sir, if the game is right.
Come on over here.
Let's get it.
You never got a picture before.
Here.
Now, let's look out and get it.
Well, I must say, going back to the 60s, and Luter, and that kind of thing,
All the years since then and now, I think one of the best times I've had was when he cracked his ribs.
But he had three fractures in his arm.
Oh, boy, yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I remember that was a murderous time.
Well, I must say, you really got called down on us.
I was out of my house.
I almost died.
I can't hold it.
But you were sitting in my chair and you carried on for another hour with me.
I don't know.
I never had a student do anything like that again.
Well, you've just been a Taurus friend.
You've been a great help to Bob.
He's just got it.
He belongs inside.
That's his...
That's his father.
He's still a strong man.
He's around the corner.
He's got to get through after this year and he can start running.
He must not lose this year.
That's the main thing.
Next year, he's ready.
Right at this age.
He's a health center.
Well, I do remember that night you gave me the oldest one.
I don't know if you want to draw a ball for me.
Have you got an old one?
No, I never have.
It's just gold, by the way.
Thank you very much.
What about children?
All right, I'll get it.
I'll be on the same track.

NARA Description

On November 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, George L. Grassmuck, Alexander P. Butterfield, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:25 pm to 12:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 619-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 619-25

Date: November 16, 1971
Time: 12:25 pm - 12:28 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with George L. Grassmuck and Alexander P. Butterfield; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Grassmuck
          -Plans
          -Experiences with the President
               -1968 campaign
               -Injury as Vice President

     John C. (“Johnny”) Unitas

     Grassmuck
          -Work with Robert H. Finch

     Finch
          -Future
               -Senate

     Presentation of gifts by the President

     Golf ball

     Grassmuck's daughters

Grassmuck and Butterfield left at 12:28 pm.

Also recorded on November 16, 1971

  • 619-020 12:20 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:20 pm.
  • 619-021 12:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Kenneth M. Smith, Patrick J. Buchanan, Lyndon K. Allin, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:20 pm to 12:22 pm.
  • 619-022 12:22 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:22 pm.
  • 619-023 12:22 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John H. Hogue, William E. Timmons, Clark MacGregor, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:22 pm to 12:25 pm.
  • 619-024 12:25 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:25 pm.
  • 619-026 12:28 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:28 pm and 12:30 pm.
  • 014-130 12:30 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and 12:33 pm.
  • 014-131 12:30 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and 12:33 pm.

All 90 conversations from November 16, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 619-025, November 16, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/619-025 (accessed October 1, 2026).