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December 3, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 3, 1971, 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: Thursday, December 2, 1971

Next Date: Saturday, December 4, 1971

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 Key Biscayne, Florida

  • 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.

    Digitized versions can be found at HathiTrust.

  • 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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    The Intelligence Community and the White House

    • 249. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Helms to President Nixon, Washington, December 3, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 333, Intelligence Reorganization, Vol. I. Secret. Copies were sent to Shultz and Anderson. Odeen and Marshall forwarded Helms’ memorandum to Kissinger under a December 14 covering memorandum that stated: “The general direction Helms’ plan takes appears adequate and appropriate. Andy Marshall will continue to monitor the staffing for Helms’ new role. All appears to be going well so far.” A notation on the covering memorandum indicates that Kissinger saw it. (Ibid.)

    • 250. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State (Irwin) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, December 3, 1971, 3:12-3:35 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 1 US. Secret. Drafted by Weiss on December 3, cleared by Cline, and forwarded to Rogers on December 4. The date and time of the meeting are from Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, December 3. (Library of Congress, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–1976, Record of Schedule) For another record of the same meeting, see Document 251.

    • 251. Minutes of Meeting, Washington, December 3, 1971, 3:12-3:35 p.m.

      Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Log Numbered Series, 1971–1973. Top Secret; Codeword. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Davis forwarded the minutes to Kissinger under cover of a December 14 memorandum. (Ibid.) For another record of the same meeting, see Document 250.

    Vol. III, Foreign Economic Policy; International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    • 213. Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts, Washington, December 3, 1971

      Source: Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Secretary’s Memos: FRC 56 74 17, Classified Miscellaneous 1971. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted in Treasury by Assistant Secretary Petty on December 3 and sent to the State Department for transmission to Bonn, Brussels, The Hague, London, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome, USEC, and USOECD. According to telegrams from the addressees (see Document 215), it was transmitted as telegram 219288.

    • 214. Telegram From the Mission to the European Community to the Department of State, Brussels, December 3, 1971, 1523Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 73 D 153, Box 124, Morning Summaries. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Paris for Deputy Under Secretary Samuels. Similar messages were received from the Embassies in Bonn (telegram 15042, December 3) and Rome (telegram 7658, December 4). (Both ibid., Central Files 1970-73, FN 10)

    Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

    South Asia Crisis, 1971

    Vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

    Announcement of Summit Through the South Asia Crisis, October 12-December 1971

    • 16. Note From President Nixon to the Soviet Leadership, Washington, December 3, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 492, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1971, Vol. 8. No classification marking. A note on the first page reads: “Handed by K[issinger] to Vorontsov at 6 p.m., Fri, 12/2/71.” The President and Kissinger discussed this note and the deepening crisis in South Asia on the telephone beginning at 10:45 a.m. on December 3. Kissinger told Nixon: “I think I should give a brief note to the Russians so that they don’t jump around about conversation [see footnote 3 below] yesterday and say we are going on your conversation with Gromyko [September 29]. A strong blast at their Vietnam friends and behavior on India. We are moving on our side but they are not doing enough on theirs. P: On India certainly but on VN I wonder if it sounds hollow. K: We will crack them [the North Vietnamese] in a few weeks anyway. P: You may hear from them. It’s hard to believe that with everything going our way why we didn’t hear from them. They must be asking for it and they must know it. Maybe it’s what they want. K: It won’t hurt to show the Russians that we can pick the topic. P: Say we are in accordance with the President’s statement that we are coming through on our side of the bargain and very distressed that no reciprocal action on their side.” (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 370, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File) The September 29 conversation between Nixon and Gromyko is in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970–October 1971.

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China, October 1971-February 1972

    • 175. Response to NSSM 141, Washington, December 3, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 80 D 212, National Security Files, NSSM 141. Secret. The response was submitted by De Palma, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Working Group for NSSM 141, on December 3. A December 3 note in the file by Herz stated: “The NSC Staff has agreed that NSSM 141 should be regarded essentially as a briefing paper.” The NSC staff distributed the paper on December 7 with a covering memorandum that stated that it would be discussed at a Senior Review Group meeting on December 8. No meeting was held however. (Both ibid.) NSSM 141 is printed as Document 171.

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

    Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    Canada

    • 107. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 3, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL CAN–US. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by W.M. Johnson. Approved in S “as amended” on December 4.

    Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

    Nuclear Test Ban Issues; Peaceful Nuclear Explosions

    • 307. Memorandum for the Record, Washington, December 3, 1971

      Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Haig informed the Department of State that the White House had no objection to it abstaining on all three test ban resolutions before the UN.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, DEF 18–4. Confidential. Prepared by Robert H. Miller.

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    India and Pakistan: Crisis and War, March-December 1971

    Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

    • 71. Memorandum for the Record, New York, December 3 and 4, 1971, New York, December 3, 1971

      Commander Howe reported on his telephone calls and meetings with two Chinese diplomats: Wang Hai-jung and T’ang Wen-Sheng. Howe had been instructed to communicate to the Chinese that the Pakistani Government had left it up to the United States Government to determine whether or not to request a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, Oct 20, 1971-Dec 31, 1971. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Drafted by Howe. A handwritten notation indicates that Haig saw the memorandum. Attached at Tab A is the message outlining communication channels between the U.S. and China and the steps the United States was taking in order to diffuse the situation. Handwritten notes on the attached message read: “Delivered by Jon Howe to Miss Tang 10:15 pm, 12/13/71” and “Win Lord.” For discussion of the communication channels agreed upon at the November 23 meeting, see Document 68. Attached at Tab B but not published is Howe’s hand-written note, dictated by Haig on December 4.

  • 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

  • Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

    Cabinet Room

  • 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-7909 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7909-02-16, Bill signing at OEO with General Lincoln. 12/3/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Gen. Lincoln, unidentified men.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7909-17-22, Unidentified man seated at his desk. 12/3/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. unidentified man.

    Roll WHPO-7910 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7910-05-06, Unidentified persons outside a lpane. 12/3/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7910-07-16, Vice President Agnew attending a National League of Cities meeting. 12/3/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Spiro Agnew, National League of Cities members.

    Roll WHPO-7911 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7911-03A-30A, Close-up portrait study of William Horton. 12/3/1971, Washington, D.C. Executive Office Building. William Horton.

    Roll WHPO-7921 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7921-01A-07A, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower greeting a crowd upon arrival in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7921-05, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower signing autographs for members of the crowd upon arrival in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-7922 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7922-02A-03A, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower looking at art work. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7922-04A-28A, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower seated with reporters during a TV show interview in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7922-11, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower seated with reporters during a TV show interview in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7922-14, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower seated with reporters during a TV show interview in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7922-29A-36A, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower greeting members of a crowd in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-7923 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7923-02-03, 08, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower watching musicians and entertainers at the Southern Grand Old Party Republican Political Rally. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. entertainers.

    Roll WHPO-7924 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7924-02-12, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower seated with reporters during a TV show interview in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men and women, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7924-09A, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower seated with reporters during a TV show interview in Memphis. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7924-14-20, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower greeting people at the Grand Old Party Political Rally. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men and women, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7924-21-34, Julie Eisenhower, wearing a black, red and white vertically striped dress with a red ribbon, and David Eisenhower greeting the crowd at the Grand Old Party Political Rally. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men and women, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-7925 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7925-01A-04A, Julie Eisenhower, wearing a black and white vertically striped dress with a red ribbon, and David Eisenhower sitting at the (GOP) Grand Old Party Political Rally. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men and woman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7925-05A-17A, Julie Eisenhower, wearing a black and white vertically striped dress with a red ribbon, and David Eisenhower addressing the delegates at the (GOP) Grand Old Party Political Rally under a blue and white banner reading "1971 Southern Republican Conference". 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men and woman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7925-08, Julie Eisenhower, wearing a black, red, and white vertically striped dress with a red ribbon, and David Eisenhower speak with an official at the (GOP) Grand Old Party Political Rally under a blue and white banner reading "1971 Southern Republican Conference". 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified man.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7925-18A-21A, Julie Eisenhower, wearing a black and white vertically striped dress with a red ribbon, and David Eisenhower speaking with a woman at the (GOP) Grand Old Party Political Rally. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified men and woman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7925-21, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, wearing a black and white vertically striped dress with a red ribbon, and David Eisenhower speaking with a woman at the (GOP) Grand Old Party Political Rally. 12/3/1971, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified woman.

    Roll WHPO-7933 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7933-02-12, President Nixon meeting with Assistant John Ehrlichman, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) George Shultz, and Deputy Director of the OMB Caspar Weinberger about the budget. 12/3/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, Caspar W. Weinberger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7933-08, President Nixon meeting with Assistant John Ehrlichman, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) George Shultz, and Deputy Director of the OMB Caspar Weinberger about the budget. 12/3/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, Caspar W. Weinberger.

  • 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-4852
      "Today" Show, Hour II. White House Conference on Aging Secretary of the Treasury John B. Connally.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 00:59:12
    • WHCA-4853
      "The Biography of the President", (three 1/2 hour segments)".
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:32:55
    • WHCA-4854
      "The Phil Donahue Show". on prison reform Lt. Col. Anthony Herbert.
      Daphne Productions and Roland & Jaffee Productions
      Runtime: 01:00:18
    • WHCA-4855
      "The Phil Donahue Show". The show takes a prison tour Secretary of the Treasury John B. Connally.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 00:58:17
    • WHCA-4872
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:27:45

      1. Reasoner/Geer: The Pakistan War. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: East Indian, Indo-Pakistani war. Network: ABC.

      2. Gill: U.S. and Pakistan. Time Code Start: 02:50. Keywords: Asian, Pakistani, East Indian, war. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner/Downs: Unemployment and the economy, Herbert Stein. Time Code Start: 03:48. Keywords: economy, economics, debt, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, jobs, unemployment. Network: ABC.

      4. Reasoner/Koppel: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir in Washington, D.C.. Time Code Start: 06:01. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, meetings. Network: ABC.

      5. Reasoner: Commentary on the economy. Time Code Start: 08:08. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: ABC.

      6. Chancellor/Levine: The dollar to be devalued, Connally, Herbert Stein. Time Code Start: 09:50. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, currency, monetary values, exchange rates, decreases, wages, costs, increases. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor: Phase II rent controls; unemployment up. Time Code Start: 12:28. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      8. Chancellor/Oliver: Muskie denounces Supreme Court nominee Rehnquist; Senator McGovern, Representative McCloskey, out for youth vote, neglect the not-in-college youth vote. Time Code Start: 13:44. Keywords: Vote, voters, voting, law officials, judges, justices, courts, trials, investigations, nominees, young people, issues, voting age, registrations. Network: NBC.

      9. Chancellor/Valeriani: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir comments on her talks with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 17:47. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, meetings, statements, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: NBC.

      10. Cronkite/Kalb: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir wants U.S. aircraft. Time Code Start: 19:44. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, war, weapons, aid, aircrafts, jets, Prime Ministers. Network: CBS.

      11. Cronkite: Unemployment and prices up, employment up; Phase II rent judgements; dollar may be devalued. Time Code Start: 21:24. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, cabinet, advisors, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, currency, monetary values, exchange rates, decreases, wages, costs, increases. Network: CBS.

      12. Cronkite: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Ruckelshaus comments on pollution control. Time Code Start: 22:44. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, bills, laws, ecology, pollutants, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, smog, smoke. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)