Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide whose disclosure of Richard Nixon's secret taping system hastened the president's resignation during the Watergate scandal, has died at the age of 99. His death was confirmed by his wife, Kim, and John Dean, former White House counsel to Nixon.
Butterfield served as deputy assistant to President Nixon from 1969 to 1973, overseeing a voice-activated taping system installed in the Oval Office, cabinet room, and other locations. During a Senate investigation into the Watergate break-in on 13 July 1973, he revealed the existence of the system, which recorded all conversations when the president was present.
The tapes later exposed Nixon's role in the cover-up of the 1972 burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Following a Supreme Court order to release the tapes, Nixon resigned on 9 August 1974 to avoid impeachment. Butterfield later expressed regret over his role, stating in a 2008 oral history that he felt responsible for the president's downfall.
After leaving the White House, Butterfield became administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. He believed he was fired in 1975 by President Gerald Ford as part of an agreement between Nixon and Ford staff. The tapes, now held by the National Archives, revealed Nixon's crude language and bigoted views.
