Alexander Butterfield, who revealed Nixon White House tapes, dies at 99

Washington Post
by Emily Langer
March 9, 2026
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2 min read

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Alexander Butterfield, the aide who disclosed Nixon's White House taping system, has died at 99.

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Alexander Butterfield, the former White House aide who disclosed the existence of President Richard Nixon's secret recording system, has died at 99. His testimony in 1973 was pivotal to the Watergate investigation, revealing that all conversations in the Oval Office and other locations were taped. This revelation led to a protracted legal battle for the tapes, ultimately contributing to Nixon's resignation. Butterfield's disclosure provided crucial evidence that shaped the course of American political history.

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