Butterfield was sworn in as Richard Nixon’s deputy assistant at the President’s first inauguration on 20 January 1969.  A trusted and loyal member of the 37th President of the United States’ staff, Butterfield’s role inside the White House expanded over the course of Nixon’s first administration.

In February 1971, Butterfield was instructed to oversee the installation of the now infamous White House taping system.  He remained one of the few people who knew of its existence.

Butterfield will be interviewed by Dr Richard Jobson of Bristol's Department of History (Historical Studies) about the extent of the secrecy, paranoia and deception that lay at the heart of the Nixon administrations.   

The interview will examine the nature of the scandal that, ultimately, culminated in the President’s political demise.  Butterfield will answer questions on the nature of day-to-day life working under Nixon, the impact that the Watergate scandal had on the President and his closest advisors and the historical significance of the events that unfolded during this particularly turbulent period in American political history.

Nixon Watergate: An Interview with Alexander Butterfield takes place on Tuesday 4 March 2014 at 6 pm in the Tyndall Lecture Theatre, School of Physics, Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TL

Admission Free, booking required in advance via the online booking form