Conversation 670-020

TapeTape 670StartMonday, February 14, 1972 at 3:45 PMEndMonday, February 14, 1972 at 3:47 PMTape start time04:43:35Tape end time04:45:10ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss staffing arrangements for an upcoming meeting involving André Malraux and Henry Kissinger. Nixon explicitly expressed his opposition to utilizing female interpreters, directing Butterfield to ensure a male interpreter is selected for the assignment instead. This exchange reflects the President’s rigid preferences regarding professional protocol and the composition of his diplomatic staff.

André MalrauxHenry KissingerWhite House staffingPresidential preferencesDiplomatic protocolGender bias

Audio

NARA Description

On February 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:47 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 670-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 670-20

Date: February 14, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:45 pm and 3:47 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     Meeting
          -Andre Malraux                                         Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)
               -Interpreter
                     -Sophia K. Porson
                           -Henry A. Kissinger
                                 -President’s view
                           -Stag dinner

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 3:47 pm.

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

There's a female in February.

That would be awesome.

both at 4,000 and 5,000 feet, as well as for the minute.

I'll get that.

I want to study that.

I think there was a backhander.

I want to see the tail of the backhander.

The very kind of argument we had was that it would be very obvious that she is a service person and not a member of the group if she sits there as a woman.

But it seems like she didn't have a group and made it out.

I doubt it.

I don't like her anymore.

I mean, I don't mean, I don't like a woman interpreter.

I don't want women interpreters.

I don't have to describe it 150 times.

Just get a man.

Life doesn't apply to me.

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