Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide who disclosed Watergate tapes, dies at 99
Butterfield's 1973 disclosure of Nixon's secret recording system led to a Supreme Court battle and Nixon's 1974 resignation, exposing the Watergate cover-up.
- Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who disclosed the president's taping system, has died, confirmed to The Associated Press by his wife Kim and John Dean.
- Senate staffers privately questioned Butterfield on July 13, 1973, after John Dean's testimony, leading to his public disclosure on July 16, 1973.
- Butterfield oversaw voice-activated devices that recorded conversations in four locations, including the Executive Office Building and Camp David, with thousands of hours now held by the National Archives.
- Facing impeachment pressure, Nixon resigned on Aug. 9, 1974, less than a month after the Supreme Court of the United States ordered him to surrender the tapes, ending a yearlong legal battle.
- Reflecting on the tapes' legacy, Butterfield later said he felt partly responsible for Nixon's fate and criticized Nixon as 'not an honest man' and 'a crook', noting only H.R. Haldeman, a Haldeman assistant, and Secret Service agents knew about the taping system, which is now held by the National Archives.
126 Articles
126 Articles
When it emerged that the president was recording all his conversations, it suddenly shed new light on one of the biggest political scandals in US history.
Alexander Butterfield, Ex-Nixon Aide Who Revealed Watergate Tapes, Dies At 99
Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who disclosed Richard Nixon's secret audio taping system, providing the "smoking gun" of the Watergate scandal that brought down the president, has died at age 99.
Alexander Butterfield, former top Nixon White House aide whose testimony transformed Watergate investigation, dies
Alexander Butterfield, a former top aide to President Richard Nixon whose disclosure of a secret taping system in the White House dramatically shaped the Watergate scandal, ultimately leading to Nixon’s resignation, has died. He was 99.
Alexander Butterfield, who revealed Nixon White House tapes, dies at 99
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium





















