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Conversation 635-004

TapeTape 635StartFriday, December 10, 1971 at 8:48 AMEndFriday, December 10, 1971 at 9:10 AMTape start time00:15:15Tape end time00:17:45ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate the President's upcoming daily schedule and manage several high-level appointments. They specifically discussed the need to reschedule a meeting with Senator Barry Goldwater due to the Senator's travel, ensuring the postponement was framed in a way that distanced the President from any scheduling conflicts. The conversation concluded with instructions to handle the logistics of these meetings—including engagements involving John Ehrlichman, George Shultz, and Clark MacGregor—while maintaining appropriate administrative buffers.

Presidential SchedulingBarry GoldwaterWhite House AdministrationPolitical StrategyAppointment Management
AudioNARA Description

On December 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:48 am and 9:10 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 635-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 635-4
                                               3

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)




Date: December 10, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:48 am and 9:10 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     The President’s schedule
          -Meeting
               -Call from Barry M. Goldwater
                      -Dulles Airport
                      -John D. Ehrlichman
                      -George P. Shultz
                      -Clark MacGregor
               -Possible handling

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:10 am.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Gregor said he had an emergency that was coming up.
He didn't say what time.
He's gone to Dallas.
He's going to Dallas, he says.
Well then, let me be sure.
They said Barry asked me to be postponed.
Well, no, Barry didn't have to be a post-bomber.
We're trying to show the scale that you and my grand-grandmother were not buried here.
I'm fine with that.
You understand what I'm trying to say?
And instead of somebody saying that Barry can't be here, we want to have him at a time when he can.
Is that what they're going to tell him, or how they're going to handle it most of the time?
That's the way they're going to handle it.
It should be.
Yeah, but I mean, tell the other folks why.
Yes, sir.
Don't put it on me, you see.
Barry had to go off, and we're going to try to schedule it in time, because I don't need to be here.
That's precisely what it is.
Good?
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