February 8, 1971

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

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

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.

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.

• Special Message to the Congress Proposing the 1971 Environmental Program
• Statement About the Special Message to the Congress Proposing the 1971 Environmental Program
• Proclamation 4030—National Poison Prevention Week, 1971

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.

No Federal Register published on this date

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

• House of Representatives: February 8, 1971
• Senate: February 8, 1971
• Extensions of Remarks: February 8, 1971

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.

• Transcript of diary entry (PDF)
• Original audio recording (MP3)

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

• Text search for February 8, 1971
• Date search for February 8, 1971

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• Text search for February 8, 1971
• Date search for February 8, 1971

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 08 February 1971

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

Chinese Representation in the United Nations

• 328. Letter From the Representative to the United Nations (Yost) to Secretary of State Rogers, New York, February 8, 1971

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 CHICOM. Secret. Secretary Rogers acknowledged Yost’s letter on February 23, and invited him to attend the meeting of the Senior Review Group of the NSC when it discussed NSSM 107. (Ibid.) See Document 335.

Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

Operational Lam Son 719, February 8-April 7, 1971

• 124. Minutes of a Meeting of the Senior Washington Special Actions Group, Washington, February 8, 1971, 10:35

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–115, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House. According to a chronology attached to a February 9 memorandum from Howe to Haig, the meeting ended at 11:17. (Ibid., Box 84, Vietnam Subject Files, Special Operations File, Vol. IV)

Vol. XIX, Part 2, Japan, 1969-1972

December 1969-March 1971: Relations After the First Nixon-Sato Summit

• 66. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Green) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Trezise) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, February 8, 1971

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, INCO FIBERS 17 US–JAPAN. Secret; Exdis. Trezise initialed this document; Green did not; it was sent through S/S and Eliot’s stamped notation is on the memorandum. Cleared by Richard Ericson, the Country Director for Japan, and Trezise, and U. Alexis Johnson in substance.

Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

• 204. Minutes of a Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, February 8, 1971, 5-5:18 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–112, Senior Review Group, SRG Minutes (Originals) 1971. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

Vol. XXIX, Eastern Europe, 1969-1972

Hungary

• 113. Memorandum From C. Fred Bergsten of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, February 8, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 693, Country Files—Europe, Hungary, Vol. I. Confidential. Sent for information. A copy was sent to Sonnenfeldt.

Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

Greece

• 302. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State, Athens, February 8, 1971, 1555Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 594, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. II 1 Nov 1970–31 Dec 1971. Secret; Exdis.

Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

The Defense Budget and Safeguard Phase III

• 173. National Security Decision Memorandum 97, Washington, February 8, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 364, Subject Files, NSDMs, Nos. 97–144. Top Secret. Copies were sent to Moorer and to Senior Members of the U.S. SALT Delegation.

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

United Kingdom

• 337. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, February 8, 1971, 12:30 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 728, Country Files—Europe, United Kingdom, Vol. V. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Springsteen and approved with one editorial correction by the White House on February 12. The meeting took place in the Red Room of the White House.

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

India and Pakistan: Pre-Crisis, January 1969-February 1971

• 112. Telegram 21111 From the Department of State to the Embassy in India, Washington, February 8, 1971, 1742Z

  The telegram conveyed a letter from Secretary of State Rogers to Indian Foreign Minister Singh in which Rogers took exception to an allegation by Singh that the United States was interfering in election campaigns taking place in India.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 14 INDIA. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Quainton on January 26; cleared by Schneider, Van Hollen, Sisco, Deputy Assistant Secretary Colgate Prentice, and Coerr; and approved by Rogers. Senator John Sherman Cooper of Kentucky visited New Delhi January 7–18.

• 113. Letter From the Pakistani Ambassador (Hilaly) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, February 8, 1971

  Pakistani President Yahya requested the U.S. to use its good offices to mediate in a mounting dispute with India over an Indian airliner hijacked in Kashmir.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL INDIA–PAK. No classification marking. The two men who hijacked the plane were members of the National Liberation Front for Jammu and Kashmir. They threatened to blow up the plane unless India released 30 political prisoners held in Kashmir. (Telegram 130 from Lahore, February 1; ibid., AV 12 INDIA) India subsequently demanded that Pakistan pay compensation for the loss of the plane, extradite the hijackers to India, and accept responsibility for the incident. (Aide-mémoire delivered to the Department of State by the Pakistani Embassy, February 12; ibid., POL INDIA–PAK) On February 24 the Embassy in New Delhi reported troop movements on both sides of the border between India and West Pakistan growing out of the hijacking incident. (Telegram 2759 from New Delhi; ibid., AV 12 INDIA) Additional documentation on the incident is ibid.

Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

Costa Rica

• 184. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, February 8, 1971., Washington, February 8, 1971

  Responding to a February 7 Miami Herald article, which alleged that President José Figueres had demanded the recall of both the U.S. Ambassador and “the reputed CIA chief in Costa Rica,” Executive Secretary Eliot noted that Figueres had not requested the Ambassador’s removal.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 779, Country Files, Latin America, Costa Rica. Secret. An unknown person signed for Eliot above his typeset signature.

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.

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-5605 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5605-, Dr. Edwin Harper portraits. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Edwin Harper.

Roll WHPO-5606 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5606-, Egil Krogh portraits. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Egil Krogh.

Roll WHPO-5607 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5607-03A-05A, President Nixon accepting diplomatic credentials from Antonio Sanchez de Lozada, Ambassador of Bolivia. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Antonio Sanchez de Lozada, Jose Juan de Olloqui, the Earl of Cromer.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5607-07A-09A, President Nixon accepting diplomatic credentials from Jose Juan de Olloqui, Ambassador of Mexico. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Antonio Sanchez de Lozada, Jose Juan de Olloqui, the Earl of Cromer.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5607-11A-12A, President Nixon accepting the diplomatic credentials from the Earl of Cromer, Ambassador of Great Britain. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Antonio Sanchez de Lozada, Jose Juan de Olloqui, the Earl of Cromer.

Roll WHPO-5608 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5608-, President Nixon with Ray Price and Noel Koch. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ray Price, Noel Koch.

Roll WHPO-5609 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5609-, President Nixon during the filming of a statement on the environment. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. Theatre, White House. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5609-02A, President Nixon seated during the filming of a statement on the environment. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. Theatre, White House. President Nixon.

Roll WHPO-5610 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5610-, Reception for the Diplomatic Corps with President Nixon and Pat Nixon in attendance. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, guests.

Roll WHPO-5611 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5611-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon greeting guests during a reception for the Diplomatic Corps. 2/8/1971, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, guests.

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.

D - First Family

• WHCA-SR-D-013
  Mrs. Judy Agnew on "The David Frost Show". (2/8/1971, none listed)
  
  Runtime: none listed
  
  Production credits: No feed information listed; No WHCA engineer initials listed
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

• WHCA-SR-G-078
  Briefing to news media by Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton, with Russell Train and William Ruckelshaus. (2/8/1971, Press Lobby)
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JAD (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-710206
  Taped statement on Environmental Message. (2/8/1971)
  
  Runtime: 0:00:54
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

• WHCA-SR-P-710207
  Remarks by President Nixon in a diplomatic reception. (2/8/1971)
  
  Runtime: 5:24
  
  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-4162
  President Nixon's Speech at the University of Nebraska Coliseum: "The President Meets #1". Walter Hickel, former Secretary of the Interior, actress Rachel Roberts (AKA Mrs. Rex Harrison to 2/21/71).
  Group W Productions
  Runtime: 01:06:07
• WHCA-4163
  "George Washington's Mt. Vernon".
  NBC
  Runtime: 00:53:04
• WHCA-4164
  "The David Frost Show" with guest Mrs. Judy Agnew (wife of Vice President Agnew) and singer Loretta Lynn.
  NBC
  Runtime: 01:00:44
• WHCA-4174
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:30
  
  5. Reasoner/Bell/Koppel: Indochina War including the Laos situation. Time Code Start: 10:36. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  6. Reasoner/Scali/Clark: Indochina War including the Laos situation (McCloskey of the State Dept., Senators Muskie, Fulbright and Scott). Time Code Start: 16:59. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  7. Reasoner: Commentary on President Nixon sending package of various environment bills to Congress. Time Code Start: 21:50. Keywords: bills, laws, environment, pollution, anti-pollution, smog, ecology, environment, mountains, lakes, rivers, clean air, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. Network: ABC.
  
  8. Brinkley/Bennett/Goralski/Kaplow: Indochina War in Laos; 5,000 South Vietnamese attack into Laos to disrupt Ho Chi Minh trail supply shipments; U.S. air support, artillery, medical aid; Senator Mansfield says deepening of tragedy. Time Code Start: 23:10. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
  
  9. Chancellor: Opinion on poll on Indochina War. Time Code Start: 28:50. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: NBC.
  
  10. Cronkite/Williams: Indochina War including the Laos situation. Time Code Start: 30:35. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  11. Cronkite/Kalb: The Laos situation and White House and Congress reactions (McCloskey of State Dept., Senators Fulbright, Muskie, Gerald Ford House Minority Leader). Time Code Start: 33:00. Keywords: Vietnam War, House of Representatives, Congressmen, leaders, Senate. Network: CBS.
  
  12. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on Hawks and Doves. Time Code Start: 36:15. Keywords: Vietnam War, anti-war, pro-war, politics, political ideology. Network: CBS.
  
  13. Cronkite/Schorr: President Nixon signs environment bills and John Connally affirmed as Treasurer. Time Code Start: 39:55. Keywords: bills, laws, signings, ecology, environment, mountains, lakes, rivers, clean air, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, pollution, anti-pollution, smog, officials, Department of the Treasury. Network: CBS.
• WHCA-4211
  Excerpts From the "NBC Nightly News" Indochina War Coverage, Tape I (Weekly News Summary).
  NBC
  
  20. Brinkley: U.S. air power supports Laos invasion. Time Code Start: 19:39. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, invasions. Network: NBC.
  
  21. Bennett: At Quang Tri; helicopters at Keyh Sanh. Time Code Start: 20:40. Keywords: killed in action, KIA, fatalities, aircraft. Network: NBC.
  
  22. Goralsky: Invasion strategy. Time Code Start: 22:30. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
  
  23. Kaplow: White House reaction to invasion; U.S. troop withdrawal program. Time Code Start: 23:44. Keywords: Vietnam War, troops, withdrawals, Presidents, statements, reactions. Network: NBC.
  
  24. Brinkley: College campus reaction; Senate reaction to invasion. Time Code Start: 24:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: NBC.
  
  25. Chancellor: Statistics of a poll on the Vietnam war. Time Code Start: 25:18. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: NBC.

• TIME magazine of February 8, 1971

• New York Times of February 8, 1971

• AP Images photos from February 8, 1971
• Getty Images photos from February 8, 1971

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• February 1971 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• February 8, 1971