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Conversation 722-004

TapeTape 722StartTuesday, May 9, 1972 at 10:42 AMEndTuesday, May 9, 1972 at 10:48 AMTape start time00:44:19Tape end time00:47:41ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met to finalize logistical arrangements for an upcoming dinner honoring Duke Law School alumni. They reviewed the guest list, including attendance by various administration officials, and discussed the appropriate protocol for distributing guest gifts. Ultimately, the President decided to have the gifts mailed to attendees rather than displayed on the dinner tables.

Duke Law SchoolWhite House social eventsprotocolguest listsgift distribution
AudioNARA Description

On May 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:42 am to 10:48 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 722-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 722-4

Date: May 9, 1972
Time: 10:42 am - 10:48 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     President's schedule
          -Dinner for Duke Law School alumni
                 -Attendance
                       -L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
                       -Warren E. Burger
                       -Lewis F. Powell
                       -John B. Connally
                       -Richard G. Kleindienst
                       -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
                       -John W. Dean, III
                 -Number of Administration members
                 -Number of law school graduates
                 -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                 -Gifts
                       -Lucy A. Winchester
                       -Number
                       -Compacts
                       -Cuff links
                       -Alternatives
                 -Guest book
                       -Charles S. Rhyne
                      -Location
           -Stephen B. Bull
                -Location
           -Meeting with Soviet trade delegation
                -Peter M. Flanigan's comments
                -Henry A. Kissinger's presence
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

About that thing tonight, have you got the list of people now?
Yes.
I think you had Pat Gray.
Yes, you did.
He's coming.
There's people in government that cannot come because of their commitments.
Burgers.
Paul.
Colleagues can't make it.
Findings.
Bud Crowe.
John Dean.
So you have 25 in the administration, counting the wives, about 12 couples.
And 57 from a law school who couldn't make it.
Five couples from a law school who couldn't make it.
Some out of the country.
As long as you've got a case.
57, 25, and 78.
Two in the U.S. based in 1944.
The gifts, unless you guys want them.
I get to give them, and Lucy does too.
I get that maybe we have too many there.
At least at the table, we have too many gifts.
Just give them all the things.
Maybe one memento of the party.
Can I just come back to the ladies here?
One thing for the men.
All right.
If you want to give them all, you can mail them them.
Well, I wouldn't put anything to the table, maybe.
Yeah, maybe mail them.
Yeah, we could do that.
I'd rather mail them.
I don't like having them on the table anyway.
But if there's one on the table... Oh, yeah.
I think I need to give a compact to the ladies.
Are you good?
I didn't get to tell you that you were preoccupied.
Steve Bowles' uncle died, and he's the only survivor, so he's in New York attending to the screen.
Uncle's screen is all the way back there.
I believe it was something like that.
Peter Feininger has sent in some comments from the Soviet Trade Delegation, or perhaps Bob Stuckett.
And Henry was there last night.
Do you know who he was?
Yeah.
I'm afraid I'm going to fight tomorrow morning.
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