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April 4, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, April 4, 1970, 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: Friday, April 3, 1970

Next Date: Sunday, April 5, 1970

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 Camp David, Maryland

  • 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.

    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 and the First Lady hosted a dinner in honor of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in the State Dining Room 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.

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 NSC System

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 221. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, Washington, April 4, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 145, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, April 1, 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. Haig sent this memorandum to Kissinger characterizing it as unclear of purpose and suggesting “several very alarming features.” Haig indicated that (a) “The [Clark] Clifford thinking permeates the OSD staff,” (b) Laird conceded for the “first time that Vietnamization is a farce,” (c) Laird dramatized that financial impossibilities precluded continuation of the war and the only hope was a political solution, and (d) the United States “must draw down as rapidly as possible and to, above all, prevent further involvement in Southeast Asia.” Haig added “I believe that it [Laird’s memorandum] will cause the President to ask himself what in the hell Laird has been doing all these months.” Haig also stated “the President will gag upon reading this rambling, purposeless softening effort.” (Memorandum from Haig to Kissinger, April 4; ibid., Box 1009, Haig Special Files, Haig’s Vietnam File, Vol. V [2 of 2]) On April 10 Lynn informed Kissinger that he prepared a memorandum for the President reviewing Laird’s trip and this April 4 Laird memorandum, but it is not clear that Lynn’s analysis was sent forward. (Ibid., Box 95, Vietnam Subject Files, Vietnam, Troop Replacements, 1970)

    • 222. Memorandum of Conversation , Paris, April 4, 1970, 9:30 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’s File—Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. IV. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place at the North Vietnamese Residence, 11 Rue Darthe.

    Vol. XLII, Vietnam: The Kissinger-Le Duc Tho Negotiations

    Attempting the Impossible, August 1969-September 1970

    • 5. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, April 4, 1970, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’ File—Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. IV. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place at the North Vietnamese Residence at 11 Rue Darthé.

      In his April 6 memorandum to Nixon on the meeting, Kissinger reported that, as instructed by the President, he took a strong line with Le Duc Tho, “stressing that there was no sense in another meeting unless they were prepared to say something new. Though they were obviously prepared to meet again, without precondition, they were not prepared to promise this. Therefore, we agreed not to set another date now but to get in touch when either side was ready to meet next.” Kissinger further stated: “Since we are obviously at the end of a phase (and perhaps at the end of the meetings), it may be useful to sum up their results.” He then provided the President with a list of accomplishments from the talks so far, but concluded his list on this note: “It is probably just as well that there is not another meeting soon, since we would have been hard put to develop further proposals at the time.” (Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969–July 1970, Document 223)

      Kissinger later summed up the February 21, March 16, and April 4 meetings by noting Tho’s statement that “unless we [the United States] changed our position, there was nothing more to discuss.” (Kissinger, White House Years, p. 446)

  • 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

  • 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-3253 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon stand with singer Bobby Short and the Young Saints singers. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Bobby Short, Young Saints.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-05A-16A, President Nixon greeting The Duke and Duchess of Windsor upon their arrival at White House North Portico. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, North Portico. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Duke of Windsor, Duchess of Windsor, Tricia Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Duke of Windsor, Duchess of Windsor, Mr & Mrs. Emil Mosbacher.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-15A, President Nixon escorts the Duke and Duchess of Windsor arriving at White House North Portico. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, North Portico. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Duke of Windsor, Duchess of Windsor, Mr & Mrs. Emil Mosbacher.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-17A-18A, Portrat of David Eisenhower, wearing a tuxedo, standing between Julie Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, in evening dresses, on the evening that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor visited the White House. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. Tricia Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-18A, Portrat of David Eisenhower (wearing a tuxedo) standing between Julie Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon (wearing evening dresses) on the evening that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor visited the White House. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. Tricia Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-19A, Pat Nixon walking with the Duchess of Windsor in the Grand Hall. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. Pat Nixon, Duchess of Windsor.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-20A-27A, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor with President Nixon and Pat Nixon pose for a formal portrait outside the East Room Door. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room doorway. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-21A, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and The Duke and Duchess of Windsor pose for a formal portrait in front of a doorway under the Presidential seal. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3253-28A-36A, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor with President Nixon and Pat Nixon greeting Bobby Short and The Young Saints group on stage in the East Room. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Bobby Short, The Young Saints.

    Roll WHPO-3254 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3254-03-05, Bobby Short at the piano performing on stage in East Room for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Bobby Short, the Young Saints singing group.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3254-06-17, The Young Saints singing group performing on stage in East Room for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. 4/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Young Saints singing group.

  • 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.

    J - Entertainment at the White House

    • WHCA-SR-J-122
      Bobby Short & the Young Saints [see P-700402]. (4/4/1970)

      Runtime: 53:25:00

      Keywords: Evelyn Freeman, Tommy Roberts, Musician, musicians, music, celebrities, performance, American popular music, jazz

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700402
      Remarks by President Nixon after dinner prior to entertainment with Bobby Short and the Young Saints [see J-122]. (4/4/1970)

      Runtime: 1:28

      Keywords: Musician, musicians, music, celebrities, performance

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

Context (External Sources)