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Conversation 776-003

TapeTape 776StartThursday, September 14, 1972 at 8:57 AMEndThursday, September 14, 1972 at 9:02 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield discussed the logistical and political merits of potentially hosting musician Ray Charles at the White House. The conversation addressed concerns raised by staff members Dwight Chapin and Charles Colson regarding the optics of the invitation. Nixon ultimately decided to proceed with a brief meeting while explicitly mandating that no official photographs be taken during the event.

Ray CharlesWhite House protocolPublic relationsSchedulingPhotography policy
AudioNARA Description

On September 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:57 am to 9:02 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 776-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 776-3

Date: September 14, 1972
Time: 8:57 am - 9:02 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

             The President's schedule
                 -Ray Charles
                     -Possible invitation to White House
                          -Dwight L. Chapin's view
                          -Charles W. Colson’s view
                     -North Carolina
                     -The President’s view
                     -Merits of a meeting
                          -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins's pictures

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

                  -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. meeting
                  -Nelson A. Rockefeller

Butterfield left at 9:02 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

uh... uh...
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Do you want to know if he's going to come in?
Does he have to come in?
No, he's not.
Oh, well, I don't think so.
It's just our group will wear these here.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I think that once we get to him, once we know he wants to come in, I don't think we should do it.
Uh, I mean, it's got to be done in a way that that's seriously weird for him.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I know he's alive.
That's good.
But, uh, if they could do it in a different way, I don't mind.
They don't need to have any, I guess, I guess have any, uh, polyacid pictures.
That's good.
But I don't know if the way that we're asking him is hyper-explanatory.
We can do it that way without any pictures.
No pictures, okay.
I don't care about that.
The hearing would like to be for about 8 to 10 minutes, sometimes before, another hour.
That would be great right now.
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