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December 4, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 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: Thursday, December 3, 1970

Next Date: Saturday, December 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 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.

    Addresses and Remarks

    Appointments and Nominations

    Swearing-In Ceremonies

    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.

    • The President's remarks to the National Association of Manufacturers (advance text).

    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 announced the retirement of Sterry R. Waterman as United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
    • The President has accepted the resignation of Martin G. Castillo as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People.

    Nominations Submitted to the Senate

    Does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of Foreign Service Officers.

    • ROBERT E. VARNER, of Alabama, to be a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama, vice a new position created by Public Law 91-272, approved June 2, 1970.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

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

    Committee of 24

    Chinese Representation in the United Nations

    Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

    U.S. Troop Reductions and Related Defense Issues, November 1969-February 1971

    • 82. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 4, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 542, Country Files, Far East, Korea, Vol. III, 6/70–Dec 70. Secret; Nodis. Presumably drafted by Kent Crane, who attached it to a December 29 memorandum to Jeanne Davis.

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

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

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

    Italy

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

    International Environmental Policy

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

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    • 208. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, December 4, 1970

      Kissinger recommended the President approve a memorandum to Laird authorizing him to proceed with the Defense Department’s plans for the destruction of biological and toxin agents.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 311, Subject Files, Chemical, Biological Warfare (Toxins, etc) Vol. III. Secret. Sent for action. A handwritten notation on page two indicates that Kissinger approved the memorandum for the President. It was sent to Laird on December 15. (Ibid.) The attachments at Tabs A, B, C, H, and I are not published. NSDMs 35 and 44 (at Tab G) are Documents 165 and 190; [11/25/69; 2/20/70] Laird’s July 6 memorandum and the inventory of weapons (at Tabs E and F) are Document 199 and its attachment; and Kissinger’s memorandum at Tab D is an attachment to Document 207. [9/14]

  • 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-5208 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5208-03-06, President Nixon shaking hands with former Governor John Connally. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, John Connally.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5208-04, President Nixon shaking hands with former Governor John Connally. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, John Connally.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5208-07-20, President Nixon participating in the swearing-in ceremony for William D. Ruckelshaus (Environmental Protection Agency, EPA). 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, William D. Ruckelshaus, Jill Elizabeth (Strickland) Ruckelshaus, Justice Warren Burger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5208-13, President Nixon participating in the swearing-in ceremony for William D. Ruckelshaus (Environmental Protection Agency, EPA). 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, William D. Ruckelshaus, Jill Elizabeth (Strickland) Ruckelshaus, Ruckelshaus' children, Justice Warren Burger.

    Roll WHPO-5209 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5209-02A-23A, President Nixon participating in the swearing-in ceremony for William D. Ruckelshaus (Environmental Protection Agency, EPA). 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, William D. Ruckelshaus, Mrs. Ruckelshaus, Ruckelshaus' children, unidentified judge.

    Roll WHPO-5210 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5210-06, President Nixon sitting and meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and John Mitchell in the Oval Office. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Warren Burger, John N. Mitchell.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5210-06-09, President Nixon sitting and meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and John Mitchell in the Oval Office. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Warren Burger, John N. Mitchell.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5210-09A, President Nixon sitting and meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and John Mitchell. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Warren Burger, John N. Mitchell.

    Roll WHPO-5211 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5211-, Close-up portrait study of Vice President Agnew. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. unknown. Spiro Agnew.

    Roll WHPO-5212 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5212-8 images on contact sheet; only 7 negatives, Former close up portrait of Vice President Agnew. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. unknown. Spiro Agnew.

    Roll WHPO-5213 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5213-02A-05A, Vice President Agnew meeting with Choi Kyu-hah, the Foreign Minister of South Korea. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. Spiro Agnew, Choi Kyu-hah.

    Roll WHPO-5214 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5214-00-34, White House Photo Office (WHPO) Director-photographer Oliver Atkins posing for portraits while leaning close to a stack of cameras, lenses and other photo equipment articles. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. unknown. Oliver Atkins.

    Roll WHPO-5215 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5215-01-08, Vice President Agnew sitting and meeting with Choi Kyu-hah, the Foreign Minister of South Korea. 12/4/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. Vice President Agnew, Choi Kyu-hah, unidentified male.

    Roll WHPO-5219 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5219-02-36, National Association of Manufacturers Dinner. 12/4/1970, New York City unknown.

  • 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.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-701202
      Remarks by President Nixon at the swearing-in of William Ruckelshaus as Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency with remarks by William Ruckelshaus and Justice Burger. (12/4/1970, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 0:06:53

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by ABC (probably pool feed); No WHCA engineer initials listed

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

    WHCA-SR-P-701203

    • Remarks by President Nixon to Nat'l Assn. of Manufacturers in NYC with William Keeler, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. (12/4/1970)

      Runtime: 26:34:00

      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-4014
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:25:45

      1. Report on the unemployment rate. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: ABC.

      2. President Nixon to speak later tonight. Time Code Start: 00:53. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, speeches speeches. Network: ABC.

      3. Film report on the Supersonic Transport (SST). Time Code Start: 02:00. Keywords: Supersonic Transport, SST, aircraft, speed of sound, subsonic airliners. Network: ABC.

      4. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first Administrator Ruckelshaus. Time Code Start: 07:04. Keywords: Presidents, appointments, confirmations, cabinet, advisors, ecology, agencies, nominees, directors, environment, environmental, ecology, polution, mountains, lakes, rivers, clean air, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Network: ABC.

      5. Frank Reynolds: commentary on his last ABC Evening News show. Time Code Start: 08:00. Keywords: news, reporters, media, radio, television, TV, the press, network broadcasting corporations, retirement. Network: ABC.

      6. Unemployment. Time Code Start: 10:26. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: NBC.

      7. President Nixon in New York to speak later tonight. Time Code Start: 11:25. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, speeches speeches. Network: NBC.

      8. Update on Lithuanian defector (asylum case). Time Code Start: 12:25. Keywords: Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Simas Kudirka, fishing ships, Martha's Vineyard, USCGC Vigilant, US Coast Guard, defections, asylum denials, arrests. Network: NBC.

      9. Report on the Conference on Hunger. Time Code Start: 13:01. Keywords: conferences, conventions, world hunger, poverty, food, nutrition, health, hunger. Network: NBC.

      10. Report on the Economy. Time Code Start: 17:38. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: CBS.

      11. Unemployment. Time Code Start: 19:23. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: CBS.

      12. Presidential appointees. Time Code Start: 21:56. Keywords: Presidents, appointments, confirmations, cabinet, advisors, agencies, nominees. Network: CBS.

      13. Update on Lithuanian defector (asylum case). Time Code Start: 23:37. Keywords: Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Simas Kudirka, fishing ships, Martha's Vineyard, USCGC Vigilant, US Coast Guard, defections, asylum denials, arrests. Network: CBS.

      14. Eisenhower room at Blair House. Time Code Start: 24:05. Keywords: Presidents, guest house, mansions, historic homes, Washington, D.C.. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)