Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 824 › Conversation 824-005

Butterfield & Bull on Robert H. Finch and White House logistics

Friday, December 15, 1972 · 1:54 PM–2:04 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsButterfield, Alexander P.; Bull, Stephen B.Conversation824-005 on Tape 824StartFriday, December 15, 1972 at 1:54 PMEndFriday, December 15, 1972 at 2:04 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 824-005 ↗

AI Summary

Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull coordinated logistics for the President's upcoming schedule, including meetings for Robert H. Finch and a reception for 1972 election supporters. The discussion focused on the necessity of a public address system for the reception and clarifying the guest list for a planned Cabinet dinner. They specifically noted the status of RSVPs from Vice President Spiro T. Agnew and William P. Rogers regarding the dinner.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 don't know how many you're going to see at Finch's staff, but I just gave them a schedule.
Are you coming back today?
Too much.
Not today, no.
Huh?
Well, unless it's for today only.
He goes at 2.30, 6 to 4.30?
No.
You wouldn't want to do it at 4.30, would you?
I hate dating and stuff like that.
You'll feel... Is this the last day at Finch's now?
Yeah.
Thanks for the invitation.
and then we could do it at two o'clock in the afternoon.
See you next year.
I'll see you at two o'clock.
Do you have any presents to shake hands with?
Huh?
Just to shake hands with.
Shake hands?
I just want to confirm with the company staff that we're not going to speak.
We're not setting up any P.A.
We want you to sit down with people and do good.
No way you can set up a P.A.
You can set one up inside.
It sounds good.
Say something.
Good night.
Good night.
Has the vice president accepted that thing yet?
I guess he hasn't.
For what?
That cabinet dinner.
I guess Rodgers is the only one.

NARA Description

On December 15, 1972, Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:54 pm and 2:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 824-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 824-5

Date: December 15, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:54 pm and 2:04 pm
Location: Oval Office

Alexander P. Butterfield met with Stephen B. Bull.

       The President’s schedule
            -Meeting with Robert H. Finch
                  -Staff
                  -Timing
            -Reception for 1972 election supporters
                  -Hand-shaking
                  -Public statement
                         -Public address [PA] system
                               -Alfred Wong
            -Cabinet dinner
                  -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                  -William P. Rogers

Butterfield and Bull left at an unknown time before 2:04 pm.
                                             -67-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

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All 17 conversations from December 15, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 824-005, December 15, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/824-005 (accessed September 28, 2026).