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March 23, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, March 23, 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: Monday, March 22, 1971

Next Date: Wednesday, March 24, 1971

Schedule and Public Documents

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

    Chinese Representation in the United Nations

    • 340. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, New York, March 23, 1971, 1752Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 300, Agency Files, USUN, January–May 1971, Vol. VI. Secret. The telegram bears the following marginal notes by Assistant Secretary Green: “HAK—Here is the vote count Amb. Bush promised to do. Marshall.” “You might want to call this to HAK’s attention before tomorrow’s NSC.” “A ‘general expulsion’ IQ which did not refer to the GRC might not work, because the issue is representation, not membership.”

    Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

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

    • 164. Minutes of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group, Washington, March 23, 1971, 3:06-4:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–115, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House. All brackets except those that indicate the omission of unrelated material are in the original. In a March 23 briefing memorandum to Kissinger, Kennedy and Holdridge noted that the purpose of the meeting was to make a preliminary assessment of Lam Son 719, but that the participants would not be informed of this until the morning of the meeting to ensure that they “will not be armed with arguments or pre-cooked factual base.” (Ibid., Box H–80, WSAG Meetings, Evaluation of Lam Son Operation 3–23–71)

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

    "A Key Point in Our Relationship": Backchannel Talks on SALT, Berlin, and the Summit

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

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

    • 215. Memorandum of Meeting, Washington, March 23, 1971, noon

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL CHILE–US. Confidential; Limdis. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office.

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    • 206. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany, Washington, March 23, 1971, 1526Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 28 GER B. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Sutterlin on March 19; cleared by Hillenbrand, Dubs, Brower, Sonnenfeldt, and Rich; and approved by Rogers. Repeated to Berlin. In a March 20 memorandum forwarding the draft telegram to Rogers, Hillenbrand explained: “Ambassador Rush considers that it would be desirable for the Western side to table a proposal for a minimal increase in Soviet offices in West Berlin at this point in order to avoid a complete impasse in the Berlin negotiations.” “While it may in time be necessary to agree to a limited increase in the Soviet presence,” he continued, “we do not believe this is warranted now.” (Ibid.)

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

    International Cooperation in Space, 1969-1972

    • 259. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, March 23, 1971

      Rogers highlighted the political issue of European insistence on assurances for launching of their regional telecommunications satellites if they gave up their own launcher program. Rogers asked Nixon if the basic Department of State position to engage the Europeans in the U.S. program was in accordance with his views.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SP 10 US. Confidential. No drafting information appears on the letter. A typed notation on the memorandum reads: “Guidance provided in memo from Mr. Kissinger to Secretary dated August 18, 1971.” In a March 18 memorandum to Pollack, Rein objected to a draft of this memorandum on the grounds that it did not adequately frame the issues for the President. “The real question,” Rein stated, “is the extent to which the President is willing to permit our negotiating position in any Qseries negotiations’ on launch guarantees to threaten conflict with out Intelsat obligations or endanger the economic viability of the Intelsat system.” (Ibid.)

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

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

    U.S.-African Policy

    • 15. Memorandum Prepared by the Office of National Estimates, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, March 23, 1971

      This analysis of what the Chinese Communists “were up to in Black Africa” concerned Chinese efforts to create friction between the United States and the USSR while convincing various African governments that ties to China would be more beneficial to their interests than ties to Taiwan.

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DDI Files, Job 79–R00967A, Box 3, folder 2. Secret.

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

    Argentina

    • 65. Memorandum From the Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 23, 1971., Washington, March 23, 1971

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger concluded that General Alejandro Lanusse’s takeover would not result in any significant change in policy, and did not represent a threat to U.S. interests.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 768, Country Files, Latin America, Argentina 1969–71. Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. Hewitt of the NSC staff sent this memorandum to Kissinger on March 23 with the recommendation that Kissinger send it to the President. On March 30, Kissinger cleared a congratulatory message from Nixon to Lanusse. (Ibid.)

    Haiti

  • 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

Context (External Sources)