October 21, 1970

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.

Appointments and Nominations

• Department of Commerce (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1431, October 21, 1970)
  Announcement of Recess Appointment of Andrew Edward Gibson as Assistant Secretary for Maritime Affairs.
• Department of Commerce (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1432, October 21, 1970)
  Announcement of Recess Appointment of C. Langhorne Washburn as Assistant Secretary for Tourism.

Acts Approved by the President

• H.R. 2043 -- Private Law 91-182
  An Act for the relief of Keum Ja Franks.
• H.R. 4172 -- Public Law 91-483
  An Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance for development and operation costs of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve in the State of Wisconsin, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 9164 -- Public Law 91-470
  An Act to permit the use for any public purpose of certain real property in the State of Georgia.
• H.R. 9548 -- Public Law 91-475
  An Act to amend section 15-503 of the District of Columbia Code with respect to exemptions from attachment and certain other process in the case of persons not residing in the District of Columbia.
• H.R. 9654 -- Public Law 91-481
  An Act to authorize subsistence, without charge, to certain air evacuation patients.
• H.R. 12870 -- Public Law 91-476
  An Act to provide for the establishment of the King Range National Conservation Area in the State of California.
• H.R. 13519 -- Public Law 91-471
  An Act to declare that the United States holds 19.57 acres of land, more or less, in trust for the Yankton Sioux Tribe.
• H.R. 13601 -- Private Law 91-183
  An Act to release and convey the reversionary interest of the United States in certain real property known as the McNary Dam Townsite, Umatula County, Oregon.
• H.R. 14685 -- Public Law 91-477
  An Act to amend the International Travel Act of 1961, as amended, in order to improve the balance of payments by further promoting travel to the United States, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 15112 -- Public Law 91-482
  An Act to repeal several obsolete sections of title 10, United States Code, and section 208 of title 37, United States Code.
• H.R. 15424 -- Public Law 91-469
  Merchant Marine Act of 1970.
• H.R. 15624 -- Public Law 91-478
  An Act to convey certain federally owned land to the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma.
• H.R. 16732 -- Public Law 91-484
  An Act to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide that enlisted members of a uniformed service who accept appointments as officers shall not receive less than the pay and allowances to which they were previously entitled by virtue of their enlisted status.
• H.R. 17575 -- Public Law 91-472
  Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1971.
• H.R. 18731 -- Public Law 91-480
  An Act to revise the per diem allowance authorized for members of the American Battle Monuments Commission when in a travel status.
• H.R. 18776 -- Public Law 91-479
  An Act to establish in the State of Michigan the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes.
• S. 2916 -- Public Law 91-474
  An Act to establish the Plymouth-Provincetown Celebration Commission.
• S. 3529 -- Private Law 91-184
  An Act for the relief of Johnny Mlason, Junior (Johnny Trinidad Mason, Junior).
• S.J. Res. 242 -- Public Law 91-473
  Joint Resolution to provide for the temporary extension of the Federal Housing Administration's insurance authority.

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.

• Announcement of signing of bill (H.R. 14685) amending the International Travel Act of 1961.
• Announcement of signing of H.R. 15424, the Merchant Marine Act of 1970.
• Press conference of Dr. Paul W. McCracken, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers, on the Consuner Price Index.

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.

• The President signed the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 in a ceremony in the Cabinet Room at the White House.
• Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister of Laos, met with the President at the White House.

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 Wednesday, October 21, 1970

Argued

• Mackey v. United States
• Williams v. United States

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)
• Handwritten diary entry (JPG)

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 October 21, 1970
• Date search for October 21, 1970

All National Archives Units

• Text search for October 21, 1970
• Date search for October 21, 1970

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 21 October 1970

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

Managing the Department of State

• 327. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Spiers) to the Under Secretary of State (Irwin), Washington, October 21, 1970

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 US. Confidential. Sent through Johnson who initialed the memorandum. Drafted by Thomas Pickering (PM).

Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

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

• 56. Memorandum for the President’s File by the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Washington, October 21, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 82, Memoranda for the President, Beginning October 18, 1970. Secret; Nodis. According to a briefing memorandum from Irwin to Nixon, October 20, Souvanna arrived in the United States on October 15, addressed the UN General Assembly on October 19, spoke with Rogers in New York on October 19, and also met there with Irwin on October 17 and Green on October 16. He planned to return to Laos on October 22. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 LAOS)

• 57. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 21, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin–Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 2. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Sent for information.

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

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

• 21. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 21, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 2. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Sent for information. In a note forwarding the memorandum to Nixon at 9:30 a.m. on October 22, Butterfield reported that this memorandum supplemented Kissinger’s October 20 memorandum, Document 19. Butterfield further stated: “You will want to read it before this morning’s meetings. One additional item: Henry Kissinger believes it essential that he meet with you alone for some 20 minutes prior to your 10:30 meeting with both him and Secretary Rogers.” According to his Daily Diary, Nixon met Kissinger alone in the Oval Office for over 20 minutes prior to Rogers’s arrival at 10:29. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files) Kissinger then called Dobrynin at 10:35 to review the agenda, including the President’s instructions on the summit. (Ibid., Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 7, Chronological File)

Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

Two Tracks: U.S. Intervention in the Confirmation of the Chilean President, September 5-November 4, 1970

• 160. Memorandum From President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers and Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, October 21, 1970

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15 CHILE. Secret; Nodis. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of Central Intelligence.

Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

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

• 108. Memorandum for the File by the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Smith), Washington, October 21, 1970

  Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 383, ACDA Files: FRC 383–97–0010, Box 1, Director’s Files, Smith/Farley Chronological File, Box 1, Smith–Rogers Correspondence, October 1970–November 1971. Secret; Exdis. A handwritten notation on the memorandum reads: “GS gave Dubs (Soviet Affairs) oral report.”

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-4811 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4811-03A-17A, President Nixon signing the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 H.R.15424, with John A. Volpe, Secretary of Transportation, Maurice Stans, Secretary of Commerce, Helen Bentley, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, Andrew E. Gibson, Maritime Administrator, John H. Chaffee, Secretary of the Navy and others stand nearby. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, John A. Volpe, Maurice Stans, Helen Bentley, Andrew E. Gibson, John H. Chaffee, others.
• Frame(s): WHPO-4811-07, President Nixon signing the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 H.R.15424, while John A. Volpe, Secretary of Transportation, Maurice Stans, Secretary of Commerce, Helen Bentley, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, Andrew E. Gibson, Maritime Administrator, John H. Chaffee, Secretary of the Navy and others stand nearby. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, John A. Volpe, Maurice Stans, Helen Bentley, Andrew E. Gibson, John H. Chaffee, others.

Roll WHPO-4812 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4812-01-06, President Nixon signing the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 -H.R.15424 with John A. Volpe, Secretary of Transportation, Maurice Stans, Secretary of Commerce, Helen Bentley, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, Andrew E. Gibson, Maritime Administrator, John H. Chaffee, Secretary of the Navy, and others witnessing. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, John A. Volpe, Maurice Stans, Helen Bentley, Chairman, Andrew E. Gibson, John H. Chaffee, others.

Roll WHPO-4813 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4813-01A-07A, President Nixon walking to the Cabinet Room. President Nixon signing the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 -H.R.15424 with John A. Volpe, Secretary of Transportation, Maurice Stans, Secretary of Commerce, Helen Bentley, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, Andrew E. Gibson, Maritime Administrator, John H. Chaffee, Secretary of the Navy, and others witnessing. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, John A. Volpe, Maurice Stans, Helen Bentley, Andrew E. Gibson, John H. Chaffee, others.

Roll WHPO-4822 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4822-, President Nixon meets with the Prime Minister of Laos, Souvanna Phouma. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Souvanna Phouma.

Roll WHPO-4823 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4823-, President Nixon and Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma of Laos seated informally with General Alexander Haig and Interpreter Mrs. Sophia Porson during an Oval Office meeting. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Souvanna Phouma, General Alexander Haig, Mrs. Sophia Porson, Interpreter.
• Frame(s): WHPO-4823-10, President Nixon and Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma of Laos seated informally with General Alexander Haig and Interpreter Mrs. Sophia Porson during an Oval Office meeting. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Souvanna Phouma, General Alexander Haig, Mrs. Sophia Porson, Interpreter.

Roll WHPO-4824 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4824-, Vice President Agnew meets with Greek Minister Palamis. 10/21/1970, Washington, D.C. Vice-Presidential Office, White House,. Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew and Greek Minister, Palamis (nfi).

Roll WHPO-4825 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4825-, Labor Secretary George Shultz poses for portraits. 10/21/1970, unknown unknown. George Shultz.

Roll WHPO-4826 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4826-, Labor Secretary George Shultz poses for portraits. 10/21/1970, unknown unknown. George Shultz.
• Frame(s): WHPO-4826-07, Closeup portrait of Labor Secretary George Shultz. 10/21/1970, unknown unknown. George Shultz.
• Frame(s): WHPO-4826-25, Closeup profile portrait of Labor Secretary George Shultz. 10/21/1970, unknown unknown. George Shultz.

Roll WHPO-4827 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-4827-, Secretary of Labor George Shultz poses for portraits. 10/21/1970, unknown unknown. George Shultz.

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.

H - White House Staff Member Recordings

• WHCA-SR-H-283
  Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler and Paul McCracken. (10/21/1970, Press Center, White House)
  
  Runtime: 20:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by KJM (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  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-3914
  "Politics '70" with R. Sargent Shriver. John Lindsay, Mayor of New York City.
  NBC
  Runtime: 00:29:00
• WHCA-3919
  Weekly News Summary - Tape II.
  All networks
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  6. Smith/Gill/Sherwood: President Thieu called all military commanders in to Saigon Airport for a secret conference. Now he publicly invited them, his cabinet, all mayors, district chiefs from country to meet in conference. Speculation grew that allies may b. Time Code Start: 00:19:26. Keywords: Vietnam Prisoner of War, Missing in Action, POW, MIA, Vietnam War, military, leaders, meetings, ceasefires, Indochina War, postage stamps. Network: ABC.
  
  7. Smith: If GOP Chairman Rodgers Morton has his way, Vice President Agnew will be in office for long time to come. He'll personally nominate Agnew for VP in 1972, for President in 1976. Agnew says he's not ruling out possibility of him running for President. Time Code Start: 00:22:56. Keywords: elections, nominations, candidates, vice presidents. Network: ABC.
  
  8. Smith: Commentary. Current election may result in little political change. Smith sees it as single most dangerous campaign to date, claiming US close to crossing line from democracy to plutocracy. Cost of running for President grows every year, with recen. Time Code Start: 00:23:31. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, costs, money, fundraising. Network: ABC.
  
  9. Chancellor/Mosbrook: Cost of living increases, rate similar to that recorded early in the year - dangerous. September increase was .005%, double what it was in August. Administration insists prospects for year indicate a decline in inflation, and White Ho. Time Code Start: 00:25:20. Keywords: economy, finances, inflation, money, wages, costs, salarie. Network: NBC.
  
  10. Chancellor: 12,000 Iraqi troops station in Jordan started home. Jordanians never wanted troops, caught them stealing equipment on their way out. . Time Code Start: 00:27:39. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, military, troops, withdrawals, thefts. Network: NBC.
  
  11. Chancellor: 24 hours before his appointment with President Nixon, Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko deliver speech against US and Israel at the United Nations. Claims that rumor spread that the Soviet Union had violated terms of the ceasefire in Middle East. Time Code Start: 00:27:54. Keywords: Soviet Union, Russia, USSR, diplomats, officials, speeches, Middle East, Mideast, war, ceasefires, violations. Network: NBC.
  
  12. Chancellor/Bennett: Saigon reports that South Vietnam will declare a unilateral ceasefire on the eve of US Congressional elections. White House claims to know nothing about this. President Thieu calls political meeting for this weekend, perhaps to discuss. Time Code Start: 00:29:41. Keywords: Vietnam Prisoner of War, Missing in Action, POW, MIA, Vietnam War, military, leaders, meetings, ceasefires, Indochina War, postage stamps. Network: NBC.
  
  13. Chancellor/Quinn/Bourgholtzer: President Nixon prefers conservative candidate James L. Buckley to regular Republican senator. Black Congressional candidate Andrew Young claims he's running against the Southern strategy as a black, liberal democrat, runnin. Time Code Start: 00:32:31. Keywords: African Americans, elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, racism, Food, nutrition, health, hunger. Network: NBC.
  
  14. Cronkite/Stanley: Less than 2 weeks before Congressional elections and the cost of living increases, which had shown signs of settling down in August, continued to increase at .005%. Washington claims things look worse than they already are. Short term se. Time Code Start: 00:36:50. Keywords: economy, finances, inflation, money. Network: CBS.
  
  15. Cronkite/Wallace: President Nixon turns back on New York Senator Charles Goodell, indirectly supporting Conservative opponent James Buckley. Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler stated Buckley had supported Nixon on issues while Goodell hadn’t. Ziegler repeated. Time Code Start: 00:40:14. Keywords: elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: CBS.
  
  16. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary. Vice President Spiro Agnew claims people like Eric Sevareid, Howard Smith and Frank Reynolds should be publicly examined by government personnel, and that the public has a right to know their opinions and prejudices. Sevarei. Time Code Start: 00:47:19. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, reactions, media, the press, criticism, rebuttals, newscasters, politics, politicians. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of October 21, 1970

• AP Images photos from October 21, 1970
• Getty Images photos from October 21, 1970

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.

• October 1970 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• October 21, 1970