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December 22, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, December 22, 1970, pulls together various records created by the federal government and links to additional resources which can provide context about the events of the day.

Previous Date: Monday, December 21, 1970

Next Date: Wednesday, December 23, 1970

Schedule and Public Documents

  • The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    The President's day began at The White House - Washington, D. C.

  • The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents made available transcripts of the President's news conferences; messages to Congress; public speeches, remarks, and statements; and other Presidential materials released by the White House.

    Bill Signings

    Congress, Communications to

    • Social Security Legislation (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1724, December 22, 1970)
      The President's Letter to Representative Gerald R. Ford of Michigan.

    Proclamations

    Acts Approved by the President

    Checklist of White House Press Releases

    The releases listed below, made public by the Office of the White House Press Secretary during the period covered by this issue, are not included in the issue.

    • Press conference of George A. Lincoln, Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Philip H. Trezise, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Gene P. Morrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Mineral Resources), and Ralph Snyder, Acting Administrator, Oil Import Administration, on proclamation on imports of petroleum and petroleum products.
    • Press conference of Whitney Young following a meeting with the President.

    Digest of Other White House Announcements

    Following is a listing of items of general interest which were announced in the press but not made public as formal White House press releases during the period covered by this issue. Appointments requiring Senate approval are not included since they appear in the list of nominations submitted to the Senate, below.

    • Whitney M. Young, Jr., Executive Director of the National Urban League, met at the White House with the President, members of the Cabinet, and other administration officials to discuss urban problems and the possibility of increased cooperation between private, nonprofit social planning agencies and the Federal Government.
    • The White House Fellows for 1970-71 met with the President at the White House to report on their 2-week trip to eight Latin American countries.

  • Each Public Papers of the Presidents volume contains the papers and speeches of the President of the United States that were issued by the White House Office of the Press Secretary during the time period specified by the volume. The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events. In instances when the release date differs from the date of the document itself, that fact is shown in the text note.

    To ensure accuracy, remarks have been checked against audio recordings (when available) and signed documents have been checked against the original, unless otherwise noted. Editors have provided text notes and cross references for purposes of identification or clarity.

  • The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other Presidential documents.

  • The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

Archival Holdings

  • The H. R. Haldeman Diaries consists of seven handwritten diaries, 36 dictated diaries recorded as sound recordings, and two handwritten audio cassette tape subject logs. The diaries and logs reflect H. R. Haldeman’s candid personal record and reflections on events, issues, and people encountered during his service in the Nixon White House. As administrative assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, Haldeman attended and participated in public events and private meetings covering the entire scope of issues in which the Nixon White House engaged in during the years 1969-1973. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

  • The National Archives Catalog is the online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records. It is the main way of describing our holdings and also provides access to electronic records and digitized versions of our holdings. 

    The Catalog searches across multiple National Archives resources at once, including archival descriptions, digitized and electronic records, authority records, and web pages from Archives.gov and the Presidential Libraries. The Catalog also allows users to contribute to digitized historical records through tagging and transcription.

    Nixon Library Holdings

    All National Archives Units

National Security Documents

  • The President's Daily Brief is the primary vehicle for summarizing the day-to-day sensitive intelligence and analysis, as well as late-breaking reports, for the White House on current and future national security issues. Read "The President's Daily Brief: Delivering Intelligence to Nixon and Ford" to learn more.

  • The Foreign Relations of the United States series presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Visit the State Department website for more information.

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    High-Level Meetings; Miscellaneous Issues

    Chinese Representation in the United Nations

    Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

    Planning and Decisions for Operations in Cambodia and Laos, October 9, 1970-February 7, 1971

    • 94. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin–Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 3. Top Secret; Sensitive. The conversation took place in the White House Map Room. Kissinger forwarded this memorandum to the President under an undated covering memorandum, along with the original of a note from the Soviet Union to the United States on its bombing raids in the DRV. Both the memorandum of conversation and covering memorandum are printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970–October 1971, Document 74.

    Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "A Moment of Unusual Uncertainty": Meeting Between Nixon and Gromyko, October 12-December 31, 1970

    • 72. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 2. Top Secret; Codeword; Nodis; Outside System. Sent for information. Although Kissinger initialed the memorandum, no evidence has been found that Nixon saw it. According to an attached handwritten note, the memorandum may have been “overtaken by events.” Haig wrote in the margin: “Hold here in Dob. file re subject.”

    • 74. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 3. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the Map Room at the White House. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, it lasted from 1:19 to 4:05 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–76) Kissinger forwarded this memorandum and another summarizing its highlights to Nixon; a note on the summary reads: “the President has seen.”

    Vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

    Indian Ocean

    • 54. National Security Study Memorandum 110, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–178, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 110. Secret. A copy was sent to Moorer. Submitted to Kissinger under a December 18 covering memorandum from Kennedy, Saunders, Smith, and Sonnenfeldt. (Ibid.)

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Turkey

    • 438. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: Department of State, Turkish Desk Files: Lot 75 D 65, DEF 19 MAP. Confidential. Drafted by Pugh on January 4, 1971. Esenbel read his comments from a prepared aide-mémoire. A copy is attached but not printed.

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    From Stalemate to Breakthrough, August 24, 1970-May 20, 1971

    • 123. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 3. Top Secret; Sensitive. The conversation took place in the Map Room at the White House during a 3½-hour luncheon. Kissinger summarized the conversation in an undated memorandum to Nixon. A notation on the summary indicates that Nixon saw it. (Ibid.) The full text of the memorandum of conversation is printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970–September 1971, Document 74.

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    • 153. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, December 22, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–179, NSSM 111. Secret; Nodis. Sent for action. A stamp on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. Sonnenfeldt forwarded it to Kissinger under cover of a December 18 memorandum. “Before dealing with Brandt’s ostensibly procedural proposal,” Sonnenfeldt explained, “there is urgent need for a new study within the NSC system of the status of the Berlin talks and of courses open to us in the New Year. If we are going to marathon negotiations, we will need to review both substance and tactics, particularly since we may well come under new pressures from Bonn to accept a broad agreement on principles and then turn the negotiations over to Bahr and Kohl. In view of the growing internal problems within the Government on Ostpolitik and mounting German resentment it is also urgent for the NSC system to reexamine problems that will be coming along quite soon if there is a Berlin agreement, and also examine the consequences if there is no agreement.” According to an attached routing slip, the memorandum was returned to Sonnenfeldt on December 28 for “further action.” (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

    U.S.-Cuba Hijacking Agreement, 1969-February 1973

  • The Kissinger telephone conversation transcripts consist of approximately 20,000 pages of transcripts of Kissinger’s telephone conversations during his tenure as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1969-1974) and Secretary of State (1973-1974) during the administration of President Richard Nixon. Visit the finding aid for more information.

    Digitized versions of many of these transcripts can be found on the Yale University Library website.

Audiovisual Holdings

  • The White House Photo Office collection consists of photographic coverage of President Richard Nixon meeting with prominent social, political, and cultural personalities; speaking engagements and news conferences of the President and various high-ranking members of the White House staff and Cabinet; Presidential domestic and foreign travel, including Presidential vacations; social events and entertainment involving the First Family, including entertainers present; official portraits of the President, First Family, and high-ranking members of the Nixon administration; the 1969 and 1973 Inaugurals; the President’s 1972 Presidential election campaign appearances (including speeches) and other official activities of the White House staff and the President’s Cabinet from January 20, 1969 until August 9, 1974 at the White House and the Old Executive Office Building; other locations in Washington, DC, such as The Mall; and the Presidential retreats in Camp David, Maryland, Key Biscayne, Florida, and San Clemente, California. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    Roll WHPO-5375 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5375-03-05, President Nixon meeting with Senator George Murphy and Bob Finch. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, George Murphy, Bob Finch.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5375-09, President Nixon with Representative Maston O'Neal signing HR 17582. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, Maston O'Neal.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5375-09-14, President Nixon with Representative Maston O'Neal signing HR 17582. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, Maston O'Neal.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5375-18-23, President Nixon shaking hands with John Kasich. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, John Kasich.

    Roll WHPO-5376 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5376-03-17, President Nixon seated during a meeting with the Urban League's Executive Director Whitney Young, Jr., Sterling Tucker, Betti Whaley and others. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Whitney Young, Jr., Sterling Tucker, Betti Whaley, Sam Simmons, Sam Jackson, Arthur Fletcher, others.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5376-08, President Nixon seated during a meeting with the Urban League's Executive Director Whitney Young, Jr., Sterling Tucker, Betti Whaley and others. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Whitney Young, Jr., Sterling Tucker, Betti Whaley, Sam Simmons, Sam Jackson, Arthur Fletcher, others.

    Roll WHPO-5377 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5377-03A-09A, Art curator Clement Conger standing with Pat Nixon near a flower bouquet arrangement. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Clement E. Conger, Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5377-06A, Art curator Clement Conger standing with Pat Nixon near a flower bouquet arrangement and a portrait of Dolley Madison. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Clement E. Conger, Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-5378 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5378-03, Art curator Clement Conger standing with Pat Nixon near a flower bouquet arrangement and a portrait of Dolley Madison. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Clement E. Conger, Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5378-03-07, Art curator Clement Conger standing with Pat Nixon near a flower bouquet arrangement. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Clement E. Conger, Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-5379 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5379-02-07, Harry Dent and a visitor in front of White House South Lawn entrance. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Harry Dent, unidentified male.

    Roll WHPO-5380 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5380-01-11, National Christmas Tree lit up. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5381 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5381-01-11, National Christmas Tree lit up with the White House visible in background. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5381-05, Night view of the National Christmas tree standing with smaller lit Christmas trees in red lights lining the sidewalk of the Ellipse. The White House and water fountains are visible in the background, and a reindeer laying on the ground is visible in the foreground pen. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5382 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5382-01-12, Artistic shot. Night view of the illuminated National Christmas tree framed by blurred christmas lights. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5382-12, Artistic shot. Night view of the illuminated National Christmas tree framed by blurred christmas lights. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5383 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5383-01-12, National Christmas Tree with White House in background. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5383-08, Night view of the National Christmas tree standing with smaller lit Christmas trees in red lights lining the sidewalk of the Ellipse. The White House and water fountains are visible in the background, and a reindeer laying on the ground is visible in the foreground pen. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5384 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5384-02-24, White House East Room decorated Christmas Tree. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room.

    Roll WHPO-5385 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5385-02A-23A, Pat Nixon hosting the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party, with a visit from Big Bird and the company of Sesame Street TV program. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, unidentified entertainers including some Sesame Street cast members, Big Bird, Santa Claus, unidentified guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5385-03A, Pat Nixon hosting the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party, which featured a visit from Big Bird and the company of the TV program Sesame Street. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, unidentified guests, diplomatic children.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5385-12A, Pat Nixon recieves a feather Christmas present from Big Bird of the TV program Sesame Street while hosting the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, Big Bird.

    Roll WHPO-5386 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5386-03A-36A, Pat Nixon hosting the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party, with a visit from Big Bird and the company of Sesame Street TV program. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, Sesame Street cast members, Big Bird, Santa Claus, unidentified guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5386-17A, Pat Nixon hosts the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party. Pat Nixon stands next to Big Bird and holds one of his feathers in her hand. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, Sesame Street cast members, Big Bird, Santa Claus, unidentified guests.

    Roll WHPO-5387 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5387-04-35, Pat Nixon hosting the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party, with a visit from Big Bird and the company of Sesame Street TV program. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, unidentified entertainers, guests, Helen Thomas, clowns.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5387-27A, Pat Nixon hosts the Diplomatic Children's Christmas Party. Pat Nixon, clowns, Helen Thomas, and children observe the entertainers on stage. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon, unidentified entertainers, guests, Helen Thomas, clowns.

    Roll WHPO-5388 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5388-03A-06A, White House Fellows meeting. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. White House Fellows.

    Roll WHPO-5389 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5389-04A-10A, Vice President Agnew with visitors. 12/22/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Spiro Agnew, unidentified men.

  • The White House Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection contains public statements that took place between 1969 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    C - First Lady

    • WHCA-SR-C-057
      Remarks by Pat Nixon at the Sesame Street show. [see J-141]. (12/22/1970, East Room, The White House)

      Runtime: 0:28:56

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by LRR (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-308
      Press briefing by George Lincoln of the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Bruce Whelihan. (12/22/1970, Press Lobby, White House)

      Runtime: 32:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by BAC (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-H-309
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler and Whitney Young. (12/22/1970, Press Lobby, White House)

      Runtime: 27:00:00

      Keywords: African Americans, Civil Rights, Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by BAC (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    J - Entertainment at the White House

    • WHCA-SR-J-141
      Sesame Street [see C-57]. (12/22/1970, White House, East Room)

      Runtime: 24:42:00

      Keywords: Performance, celebrities, muppets, PBS, television

      Production credits: No feed information listed; No WHCA engineer initials listed

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

  • The White House Communications Agency Videotape Collection contains “off-the-air” recordings of televised programs produced between 1968 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • WHCA-4046
      "The Mike Douglas Show". Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Advisor to the President for National Security Affairs.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-4051
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      All networks
      Runtime: 01:05:51

      23. Smith/Clark/Peterson: POW list. Time Code Start: 32:31. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: ABC.

      24. Hugh Hill: Two POW wives on the list. Time Code Start: 36:16. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, families. Network: ABC.

      25. Smith/Gill: Whitney Young visits President Nixon at the White House. Time Code Start: 37:56. Keywords: President Nixon, meetings, leaders, National Urban League, NUL, National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, civil rights, African Americans, advocates. Network: ABC.

      26. Smith/Bergman: T-14 Tomcat airplane. Time Code Start: 40:08. Keywords: military, aircraft, planes. Network: ABC.

      27. Reasoner: The 91st Senate. Time Code Start: 42:37. Keywords: Senators, sessions. Network: ABC.

      28. Chancellor: POW list. Time Code Start: 44:29. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: NBC.

      29. Valariani/Chancellor: POW list. Time Code Start: --. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: NBC.

      30. Cronkite/Herman: POW list. Time Code Start: 48:08. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: CBS.

      31. Cronkite/Rather: Civil right leader Whitney Young at the White House, meets with President Nixon and Cabinet. Time Code Start: 51:37. Keywords: President Nixon, meetings, leaders, National Urban League, NUL, National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, civil rights, African Americans, advocates. Network: CBS.

      32. Schorr: Congress. Time Code Start: 53:53. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: CBS.

      33. Cronkite/Morton: More on the Congress. Time Code Start: 56:22. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: CBS.

      34. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on the Congress. Time Code Start: 57:56. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: CBS.

      35. Cronkite/Culhane: No asylum incident, with the crew of the Vigilent. Time Code Start: 60:15. Keywords: Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Simas Kudirka, fishing ships, Martha's Vineyard, USCGC Vigilant, US Coast Guard, defections, asylum denials, arrests. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)