March 26, 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.

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.

• Federal Register of Friday, March 26, 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 March 26, 1971
• Date search for March 26, 1971

All National Archives Units

• Text search for March 26, 1971
• Date search for March 26, 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 26 March 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

Appointment of UN Development Program Administrator

• 255. Memorandum From Marshall Wright of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 26, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 300, Agency Files, USUN, Vol. VI. Secret. Sent for action. An attached March 27 memorandum from Haig to Kissinger contains notes that indicate that Kissinger agreed to call Rogers and Flanigan, which was done by April 1.

Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

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

• 167. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group, Washington, March 26, 1971, 10:09-11:29 a.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. Part II is Document 168.

• 168. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group, Washington, March 26, 1971, 10:09-11:29 a.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. Part I is Document 167.

• 169. Memorandum for the President’s File by the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Washington, March 26, 1971, 4 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 997, Haig Chronological Files, Haig Memcons, 12/70–12/71, 3 of 3. Top Secret; Nodis.

Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

South Asia Crisis, 1971

• 10. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 26, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 625, Country Files, Middle East, Pakistan, Vol. IV, 1 Mar 71–15 May 71. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. A handwritten notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

• 11. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, March 26, 1971, 3:03-3:32 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–115, WSAG Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret;Nodis. No drafting information appears on the minutes. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. A briefer record of the meeting was prepared in OASD/ISA by James Noyes. (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330 76 0197, Box 74, Pakistan 092 (Jan–Jul) 1971)

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

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

• 157. Letter From Secretary of State Rogers to Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko, Washington, March 26, 1971

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL US–USSR. Secret; Nodis. Rogers called Kissinger at 1:05 p.m. on March 25 to discuss whether to send Gromyko a letter: “K: On first thought, it might not be a bad idea. Gives them an excuse if they want to come back with something. Not that they need an excuse. R: Assuming this is true, and it might be, he [Dobrynin] said that in the [Party] Congress, if it appears there is great hostility developing, it could be a setback, but, if it showed friendly contact, it might be helpful.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 9, Chronological File) Sonnenfeldt suggested several revisions to the draft letter on March 25, which Kissinger relayed to Rogers by telephone the next morning. (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 491, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1971, Vol. 5 [part 2]; and ibid., Henry Kisinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 9, Chronological File) A handwritten note on the letter indicates that it was “hand delivered to Ambassador by the Secretary.” See Document 158.

• 159. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), Washington, March 26, 1971, 3:32 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 27, Dobrynin File. No classification marking.

• 160. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), Washington, March 26, 1971, 4:23 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 27, Dobrynin File. No classification marking. A typed note indicates that the call took place “after receipt of note delivered by Sokolov to Colonel Kennedy.”

• 161. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), March 26, 1971, 8:20 p.m., PST

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 27, Dobrynin File. No classification marking. Kissinger was in San Clemente; Dobrynin was in Washington.

Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

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

• 143. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), March 26, 1971, 8:20 p.m. PST

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 78, Country Files, Europe, USSR, SALT. No classification marking. Kissinger was in San Clemente, California; Dobrynin was in Washington.

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

International Cooperation in Space, 1969-1972

• 261. Memorandum for the Record, Washington, March 26, 1971

  Extract of a memorandum of a discussion between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and the President’s Science Adviser David on post-Apollo program cooperation with the Europeans.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 270, Agency Files, OST, Vol. III. Secret. No drafting information appears on the memorandum.

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

Colombia

• 162. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 26, 1971., Washington, March 26, 1971

  President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger explained the proposed 1971 Colombia aid program and recommended approval.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 512, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia vol. XII, February 1–June 30, 1971. Confidential. Kissinger initialed for Nixon on April 1. Attached but not published are Tabs A and B. Tab A is Secretary Rogers’ March 3 request and Tab B is a March 19 memorandum from OMB Director Schultz to Nixon. In an April 6 memorandum, Kissinger informed Rogers of the President’s approval. (Ibid.) For Nixon’s reaction to the Peterson Report, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969–1972, Document 128. For Nixon’s September 15, 1970 message, see Public Papers: Nixon, 1970, pp. 745–756.

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 Tapes are sound recordings of President Richard Nixon's telephone conversations and of meetings held in the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room in the White House, the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building (OEOB), the Lincoln Sitting Room in the residence section of the White House, and several locations at the Presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. These recordings document many of the major events and decisions of the Nixon Administration from February 16, 1971 to July 18, 1973. Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

Cabinet Room

• 51-13; Unknown between 10:02 a.m. & 11:12 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cabinet officers; Rogers, William P.; Connally, John B.; Laird, Melvin R.; Mitchell, John N.; Hargrove, James W.; Morton, Rogers C. B.; Hardin, Clifford M.; Stans, Maurice H.; Hodgson, James D.; Veneman, John G.; Romney, George W.; Volpe, John A.; Kennedy, David M.; Shultz, George P.; Finch, Robert H.; Rumsfeld, Donald H.; Bush, George H. W.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Kissinger, Henry A.; MacGregor, Clark; Peterson, Peter G.; Klein, Herbert G.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Price, Raymond K., Jr.; David, Edward E., Jr. (Dr.); Safire, William L.; McCracken, Paul W.; Stein, Herbert; Dole, Robert J.; Brown, [First name unknown]

Oval Office

• 474-1; 9:40 a.m. - 9:55 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.
• 474-2; 9:55 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.
• 474-3; Unknown between 10:00 a.m. & 11:12 a.m.; Yates, Nellie L.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 474-4; 11:15 a.m. - 11:17 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 474-5; Unknown between 11:17 a.m. & 11:22 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Butterfield, Alexander P.
• 474-6; Unknown between 11:22 a.m. & 11:35 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 474-7; Unknown between 11:22 a.m. & 2:54 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Justinian Society
• 474-8; Unknown between 4:09 p.m. & 4:53 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Laird, Melvin R.; Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.); Packard, David; Kissinger, Henry A.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Connally, John B.
• 474-9; Unknown between 4:53 p.m. & 4:55 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 474-10; Unknown between 4:53 p.m. & 4:55 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 474-11; Unknown between 4:53 p.m. & 4:55 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 474-12; 4:55 p.m. - 4:59 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.
• 474-13; 4:59 p.m. - 5:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.

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-5941 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5941-09-12, President Nixon attending a Cabinet meeting. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, William Rogers, John Connally, Melvyn Laird, John Mitchell, Rogers Morton, Clifford Hardin, Maurice Stans, James Hodgson, George Romney, John Volpe, David Kennedy, George Shultz, Robert Finch, George Bush, James W. Hargrove, other cabinet members, staff, aides.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5941-10, President Nixon attending a Cabinet meeting. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, William Rogers, John Connally, Melvyn Laird, John Mitchell, Rogers Morton, Clifford Hardin, Maurice Stans, James Hodgson, George Romney, John Volpe, David Kennedy, George Shultz, Robert Finch, George Bush, other cabinet members, staff, aides.

Roll WHPO-5942 Photographer: unknown | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5942-02, Head and shoulders engagement portrait of Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Tricia Nixon, Edward Cox.

Roll WHPO-5943 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5943-02A-15A, President Nixon attending a Cabinet meeting. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, William Rogers, John Connally, Melvyn Laird, John Mitchell, Rogers Morton, Clifford Hardin, Maurice Stans, James Hodgson, George Romney, John Volpe, David Kennedy, George Shultz, Robert Finch, George Bush, other cabinet members, staff, aides.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5943-09A, President Nixon attending a Cabinet meeting. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, William Rogers, John Connally, Melvyn Laird, John Mitchell, Rogers Morton, Clifford Hardin, Maurice Stans, James Hodgson, George Romney, John Volpe, David Kennedy, George Shultz, Robert Finch, George Bush, James W. Hargrove, other cabinet members, staff, aides.

Roll WHPO-5944 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5944-03-04, President Nixon receiving a framed certificate from members of the Justinian Society. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Justinian Society members.

Roll WHPO-5945 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5945-01-11, The Rose Garden, viewed from the White House West Wing. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5945-05, The White House West Wing Rose Garden view, with alight dusting of snow on top of hedges and flower border barriers. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden.

Roll WHPO-5946 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5946-04-08, West Wing Reception Room. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing Reception Room.

Roll WHPO-5947 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5947-05-26, President Nixon departing by helicopter for Andrews Air Force Base. 3/26/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Helipad. President Nixon, aides.

Roll WHPO-5948 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5948-03-10, President Nixon and Pat Nixon being greeted upon arrival. 3/26/1971, Santa Ana, California El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, unidentified man, aides, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5948-11-15, President Nixon greeting the crowd. 3/26/1971, Santa Ana, California El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, unidentified man, aides, crowd.

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.

F - Secretary of State Briefings

• WHCA-SR-F-014
  Briefing by Sec. Rogers. (3/26/1971, State Department)
  
  Runtime: 40:00:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by State Department; Recorded by JLS (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-710329
  Remarks by President Nixon to religious leaders at White House Conference on Drug Abuse. (3/26/1971)
  
  Runtime: 15:54
  
  Keywords: drugs, drug abuse, narcotics, heroin, marijuana, addicts, addiction, prevention, programs
  
  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-4239
  "The Dick Cavett Show". folk singer Judy Collins, actress and anti-Vietnam War activist Jane Fonda, Anthony Burgess and John Marchi
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:29:30
• WHCA-4242
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:34:00
  
  29. Smith/Downs: President Nixon's proposals for wage restraints. Time Code Start: 76:25. Keywords: Presidents, reinstatements, construction workers, labor, salaries, money, wages, costs, jobs, unemployment, wage freezes. Network: ABC.
  
  30. Smith/Sherwood: Black Caucus and the visit with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 77:80. Keywords: African Americans, leaders, Congressional Black Caucus, Presidents, meetings. Network: ABC.
  
  31. Reasoner/Farmer: Indochina War. Time Code Start: 80:58. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  32. Brinkley/Lewis: Indochina War; North Vietnam massing troops, artillery in DMZ; bases at Khe Sanh and Dong Ha shelled in South Vietnam; GIs fear North Vietnam commando raids. Time Code Start: 84:43. Keywords: Vietnam War, miliary, troops, air bases. Network: NBC.
  
  33. McGee/Rich: Drilling for Oil in South Vietnam. Time Code Start: 87:45. Keywords: Vietnam War, energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies. Network: NBC.
  
  34. McGee: Black Caucus and the visit with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 90:37. Keywords: African Americans, leaders, Congressional Black Caucus, Presidents, meetings. Network: NBC.
• WHCA-4243
  Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 0:30
  
  1. Cronkite/Meyer: President Nixon's Proposals for wage restraints. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Presidents, reinstatements, construction workers, labor, salaries, money, wages, costs, jobs, unemployment, wage freezes. Network: CBS.
  
  2. Cronkite/Duvall: Indochina War. Time Code Start: 02:44. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  3. Cronkite/Kalb: Paris Peace Talks (Secretary of State Rogers). Time Code Start: 05:18. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.
  
  4. Cronkite/McLaughlin: Democratic Policy Committee. Time Code Start: 06:53. Keywords: political parties, Democrats, Democratic Party. Network: CBS.

• LIFE magazine of March 26, 1971

• New York Times of March 26, 1971

• AP Images photos from March 26, 1971
• Getty Images photos from March 26, 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.

• March 1971 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• March 26, 1971