Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide who disclosed Watergate tapes, dies at 99

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 3:50 PM EDT, March 9, 2026


WASHINGTON (AP) — Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who inadvertently hastened Richard Nixon’s resignation over the Watergate scandal when he revealed that the president had bugged the Oval Office and Cabinet Room and routinely recorded his conversations, has died. He was 99.

His death was confirmed to The Associated Press by his wife, Kim, and John Dean, who served as White House counsel to Nixon during the Watergate scandal and went on to, along with Butterfield, help expose the wrongdoing.

“He had the heavy responsibility of revealing something he was sworn to secrecy on, which is the installation of the Nixon taping system,” Dean said. “He stood up and told the truth.”

As a deputy assistant to the president, Butterfield oversaw the taping system connected to voice-activated listening devices that had been secretly placed in four locations, including Nixon’s office in the Executive Office Building and the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/alexander-butterfield-death-watergate-tapes-nixon-39a00552ae8a404da00a0d4bd5bc2d3d

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That is a blast from the past!

[Faygo Kid]

1. Seems like yesterday

And nowherenear as awful as now.

[MustLoveBeagles]

2. RIP

Back when there were honerable Republicans.

[Dulcinea]

3. There aren't many people connected with Watergate who are still alive.

Last edited Mon Mar 9, 2026, 08:48 PM - Edit history (1)

One less as of today. 99 years old! RIP.

[PJMcK]

4. Nixon and Watergate forged my Democratic roots

I grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s so the assassinations of JFK, MLK & RFK, the Vietnam War, Watergate, Apollo 11, Woodstock and more were the events I experienced as I came of age. Jimmy Carter was the first president I could vote for and I’ve voted Democratic almost exclusively since, (there was a local Republican judge on Long Island I deeply admired; he was never challenged!).

I remember when Mr. Butterfield revealed the Nixon taping system during his Senate testimony. It was truly headline news. The whole Watergate episode was considered the worst attack on our Constitution.

In the era of Trump, that seems quite quaint.

[electric_blue68]

8. I hear ya. You must be a few years younger than me...

You prompted a lot of memories....

Almost everyone in my family were Democrats. Vague memory of asking my extended family at a get together if they were voting for Kennedy. I was 7! Then I don't remember anything political till the Cuban Missle Crisis.

I volunteered for 2 local Republicans in '69, and '70 pre-voting age because the 2 Dems were too socially conservative. But never voted for any.

My first Presidential vote was for McGovern in 1972. What a crushing defeat! It was my second Presidential campaign volunteering (Humphrey was first).
I'm assuming you voted in '76 for Carter? Imagine having your first 2 Presidential campaigns as losses!
So Carter was my first Presidential win.

My first vote at 18 was in 1971.
I recently looked it up, and confirmed what I remember; there was hardly anything to vote on in '71 in NYS/C! How disappointing for a first vote! 😑
Still, of course, it was also exciting!

The bad stuff of "The 60's" was earthshaking! But Nixon looks "mild" compared to the horrors of drumphf & co!.

Obviously, I remember the tapes being revealed. And John Dean. Don't really remember Butterfield. 🤔
Definitely remember Halderman, and Eirlichman.

The crazy time of AG Mitchell, and The Saturday Night Massacre! I think at one point I was coming home in a car; and I had a transister radio following the breaking news!

[generalbetrayus]

5. Is there anyone besides John Dean left? He was one of, if you not the youngest member of the White House gang.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Believe it or not

Roger Stone did work in Nixon's 2nd (brief) administration (in the soon to be obliterated Office of Economic Opportunity), and he was obviously a baby of the crew back then.

[mahina]

6. His memory is a blessing