and that's when i came across alexander butterfield's name. i searched his name and i was like, he must have had to write a book. and he didn't, in the immediate. and i found this book that he worked on with bob woodward. the last of the presidents men -- >> we both have our copy. >> -- in new jersey, and i wrote it three times in a night. and i saw in alex the person i wanted to be and i saw this incredible moral character, this incredible american patriot. but he knew that if he was ever asked to testify, he would be forthcoming. he would tell the truth. and he had no reservations about that. and that is how i wanted to be. and that's why wanted to get myself. i was in a very dark period of my life, but -- sharing this story nearly 50 years later with bob woodward is the reason i'm sitting here with you today. and if there is anything -- hopefully we'll have more time to discuss it as well, because this book was profound. and i think alexander butterfield is one of the most incredible people i'd be honored to know in -- but the fact that he

we really did with alexander butterfield, and i talked about that on this program, and then they got together because of me talking about it on the program and having mr. butterfield on the program at age 90 something. >> she knew that because you had been able to reach him that she might be able to find him to, and he had been her american history moral compass for this moment, having had the exact parallel job that she had in the white house. you set on the course knowing that she could actually find him in the world, and, anyways, you have an important cameo there for having nailed that historical parallel in a way that was very resident and important to her. that's a theme that runs throughout the whole book in terms of having moral courage. >> they became friends, and mr. butterfield told me how impressed he was with her. he downplayed his own version of id saying, i didn't have any choice and i just told him the truth. in fact,, his testimony played very similarly at the time to cassidy hutchinson, and it did for all of us watching. it felt like it took bravery for him to do it.

alexander butterfield is how the nation learned there was a taping system in the nixon white house during watergate. cassidy hutchinson seen here meeting with mr. butterfield after her testimony. she is how the nation learned all the worst things we now know about as she puts it on page 321, quote, an unhinged chief executive willing to overturn the will of the people and plunge the country into chaos and violence on the advice of crazy people. for what? to avoid the embarrassment of conceding an election he knew he had lost. she said, quote, that is who he is. and her testimony we also know that is who she is. a paragon of bravery. she has a new book out called "enough" coming out tomorrow. she is here tonight for the interview live. stay with us. we planned well for retirement, but i wish we had more cash. you think those two have any idea? that they can sell their life insurance policy for cash? so they're basically sitting on a goldmine? i don't think they have a clue. that's crazy! well, not everyone knows coventry's helped thousands of people sell their policies for cash. even term

alexander butterfield is how the nation learned there was a taping system during watergate.and cassidy hutchison seeing here, meeting with him during his testimony. and she is how the nation learned, all the worst things we now know about, as she put, it on page 321, quote, an unhinged chief executive. well linda overturn the will of the people and -- in violence on the advice of crazy people. , and for what? to avoid the embarrassment of conceding an election he knew he had lost? she said, quote, that is who he is. and her testimony we also know that is who she is. a paragon of bravery, she has a new book out called enough. comes out tomorrow. she's here tonight for the interview. life stay with us. we're not writers, but we help you shape your financial story. ♪♪ we're not an airline, but our network connects global businesses across nearly 160 markets. ♪♪ we're not a startup, but our innovation labs use new technologies to help keep your information secure. ♪♪ we're not architects, but we help build stronger communities. ♪♪ we're not just any bank. we are citi. ♪♪ she run

a new attorney and gained confidence about moving forward after studying the testimony of alexander butterfield from the watergate hearings. butterfield was the former aide to richard nixon, who exposed the recording system that toppled nixon's presidency. >> he really was the source of strength for me and gave me the perspective not only that i could do this but that there was liven to other side of it. >> reporter: hutchinson is also defending some of her most explosive testimony. she shared with the january 6th committee an incident that she said then white house deputy chief of staff anthony orr nadeau relayed to her describing how donald trump on january 6th insisted on being taken to the capitol to join his supporters. when secret service agent bobby engel refused, hutchinson described how trump allegedly lunged toward the secret service agent. >> he motioned towards his clavicles. >> orr nadeau and agent engel have said they don't recall the conversation. >> i stand by what i testified to in that incidence and any other incident that had been disputed. >> reporter: hutchinson also stands

alexander butterfield is now 97 and living in southern california.him in person. >> now we are lifelong friends. >> yeah. more than friends, we are, yeah. >> reporter: cassidy hutchinson says that whaooil her life and heroes changed she is still a republican. are you backing someone yet in the 2024 election? >> i would like to make clear i would not back the former president of the united states. he dangerous for the country. he is willing and has showed time and time again willingness to proliferate lies and to vulnerable american people, so he could stay in power. to me that is the most un-american thing that you can do. >> i want to thank miss hutchinson for her testimony today. we are all in her debt. >> reporter: alex butterfield said he'd do it all over again. would you? >> i would. i don't think i would really change anything. i got to where i needed to be and i'm proud of the work the committee did, and i'm also very grateful that they were willing to listen and that america was willing to listen, too. ♪ i have type 2 diabetes, but i manage i

hearing, watergate, and found alexander butterfield, the former nixon aide who revealed the existence system and helped bring down a president. >> mr. butterfield, all of the president's conversations in the offices mentioned and on the telephones mentioned were recorded as far as you know. >> that's correct. >> reporter: butterfield's story became her beacon of hope, and the bob woodward book about him "the last of the president's men," became her bible. she usually keeps her well-worn copy close at hand. >> and he really was the source of strength for me and gave me the perspective not only that i could do this but that there was life on the other side of it. >> reporter: and so armed with a newfound conviction and new attorneys, she headed up to capitol hill and into history. >> did you want to back out at any point? >> oh, yes. i almost ran out of -- there's a little hold room outside the committee room that we were about to walk in, and i almost darted. >> even then, that close to it. >> even then. i heard the door click open, and i turned around and i looked at my attorney and s

in an msnbc exclusive, form nixon aide, alexander butterfield who revealed the existence o.congress during the watergate scandal. he shared a message for cassidy hutchinson, the former trump aide turned star witness at the january 6th hearings. hutchinson has publicly said butterfield was a major inspiration for her as she made the decision to come forward with allegations about the trump administration. so here was his message to her. >> you come across as though you're speaking from the heart. and that's very clear. >> hutchinson says she was inspired to reach out for butterfield after seeing him appear on "the last word" wit lawrence o'donnell. >>> that's going to do it for us this hour. make sure to join us every weekday right here on msnbc. our coverage continues with "katy tur reports" right after this press secretary. y tur repo this press secretary also defends these services for everyone who lives here. ♪ do you struggle with occasional nerve aches for everyone in your hands or feet? try nervive nerve relief from the world's number one nerve care company. nervive co

let you go to do your last preparing, she writes about how alexander battlefield is an inspiration to. her >> 41 who does not, know butterfield is a former nixon aide who testified at the watergate hearings -- in the white house. pretty -- you are a student, a podcaster, a broadcaster of historical parallels. what did you make of that comparison? >> it was interesting to me that she's so self aware about the fact that she needed her own storyteller, she needed her own role model, and she needed to believe -- find out if someone else in the world who had something like an equivalent job to hers. she had confronted can -- a moral and practical quandary. in, fact i look senior battlefields who told the world that the nixon white house had a taping system, minutes he came forward with that shocking revelation at the water gate hearings, she had the same -- in the white house. basically being the white house elt the sit -- right, thing > rachel -- > t>> u i've got a story for you after the break about trump's broken promises to the people he's going to try and calling one more time. we're back after a quick break. union. i've got