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Conversation 672-004

TapeTape 672StartTuesday, February 15, 1972 at 12:47 PMEndTuesday, February 15, 1972 at 12:56 PMTape start time03:46:35Tape end time03:49:17ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield consult on administrative scheduling and personnel matters, specifically addressing potential judicial appointments and the political optics of the Supreme Court. Nixon expresses deep concern regarding the predictability of his own appointees and contemplates the necessity of a constitutional amendment to override potential judicial opposition. The discussion underscores the President's anxieties about maintaining control over the judiciary's direction and his desire to avoid the political liability of a partisan-branded court.

Judicial appointmentsSupreme CourtConstitutional amendmentPresidential controlPolitical strategy
AudioNARA Description

On February 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:47 pm and 12:56 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 672-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 672-4

Date: February 15, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:47 pm and 12:56 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     The President’s schedule

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 12:56 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

But also, I have talked to other people.
We've got a great one-hands, and barrels, and, you know, coal, and some grand.
We have a brother who's kind of, he's good.
My view is that the Baker approach, therefore, falls.
And also you want to remember the Chief Justice may be sort of thinking of his court in terms of not wanting it, he may want it to sort of have his arms close to the, see my point?
His interest may not be ours here.
Yeah, I'm trying, I'm trying.
Now the point is that we just have to face the fact that we can't run the risk of having a so-called Nixon court
And then I say, the hell with my appointees, I am going to have a constitutional amendment.
You see, I think it's dangerous, too, because you never know what even some of our judges will say.
They'll, in their opinions, may say constitutional amendment's wrong, broken, it's got to be done.
And what do I do?
Oh, I'm really, I deal with it.
So that's what we have.
Okay, John, thank you.
Bye.
Bye.
Oh, I'll see you later.
See you later, buddy.
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