Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 790 › Conversation 790-003

Nixon & Butterfield on Andrei A. Gromyko and State reception

Monday, October 2, 1972 · 9:35 AM–9:38 AM ET · Oval Office · 43 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation790-003 on Tape 790StartMonday, October 2, 1972 at 9:35 AMEndMonday, October 2, 1972 at 9:38 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 790-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to finalize logistical arrangements for a reception honoring Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko. They specifically discussed the protocol for the receiving line, the placement of tables, and the provision of refreshments in the State Dining Room. During the brief consultation, Nixon decided against personally receiving the guests, tasking Butterfield with managing the event's execution.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I'm going to take over the office.
Do you want to receive them?
No.
No.
Are they going to have coffee?
No, no.
They could have that without you receiving them.

NARA Description

On October 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:35 am and 9:38 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 790-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 790-3

Date: October 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:35 am and 9:38 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield at 9:35 am.

        The President's schedule
            -Andrei A. Gromyko
                -Reception
                     -Table
                     -Receiving line
                     -Refreshments
                     -State Dining Room

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:38 am.

Also recorded on October 2, 1972

  • 105-010 8:05 AM · 59 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Republican Congressional leaders, including Leslie C. Arends, John B. Anderson, Samuel L. Devine, William J. ("Jack") Edwards, H. Allen Smith, John J. Rhodes, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Frank T. Bow, John W. Byrnes, Charls E. Walker, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, John D. Ehrlichman, William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler, James E. Smith, Richard K. Cook, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and William L. Gifford, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:05 am and 9:34 am.
  • 790-001 8:12 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:12 am and 8:15 am.
  • 790-002 8:15 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:15 am to 8:33 am.
  • 790-004 9:38 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:38 am to 9:43 am.
  • 790-005 9:43 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:43 am and 9:51 am.
  • 790-006 9:51 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:51 am to 10:08 am.
  • 790-007 10:08 AM · 1 hr 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Andrei A. Gromyko, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, Viktor M. Sukhodrev, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:08 am to 11:18 am.
  • 790-019 11:19 AM · 14 sec — Stephen B. Bull and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:20 am.

All 44 conversations from October 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 790-003, October 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/790-003 (accessed October 12, 2026).