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February 20, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, February 20, 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: Friday, February 19, 1971

Next Date: Sunday, February 21, 1971

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.

    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.

  • Decided

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. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

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

    Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    India and Pakistan: Pre-Crisis, January 1969-February 1971

    • 117. Telegram 29201 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan, Washington, February 20, 1971, 2101Z

      The Department reiterated the reasoning behind the decision that all arms sales to Pakistan be made on a cash basis.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 PAK. Secret; Exdis. Drafted on February 19 by Spengler; cleared by Van Hollen, Schneider, and Senior Regional Adviser James H. Boughton (NEA/RA), PM/MAS, and DOD/ISA; and approved by Sisco.

  • 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 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.

    Oval Office

  • 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-5717 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-02A-03A, President Nixon sitting with Ambassador to Italy Graham Martin and William Rogers. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Room, Library, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, William Rogers, Graham Martin, Emilio Colombo, Kissinger, Aldo Moro, Egidio Ortona, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-04A-20A, President Nixon meeting with Italian P.M. Emilio Colombo and others. President Nixon escorting P.M. Colombo to his limousine. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Room, Library, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, William Rogers, Graham Martin, Emilio Colombo, Kissinger, Aldo Moro, Egidio Ortona, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-21A-22A, President Nixon escorting P.M. Colombo to his limousine. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Room, Library, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, William Rogers, Graham Martin, Emilio Colombo, Kissinger, Aldo Moro, Egidio Ortona, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-24A-31A, President Nixon with Mr. & Mrs. John Whitaker and their two sons and with unidentified persons. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office, West Wing Portico. President Nixon, John Whitaker, Mrs. John Whitaker, sons, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-5718 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-02A-08A, President Nixon escorting P.M. Emilio Colombo to his limousine. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, Emilio Colombo, Aldo Moro, William Rogers, Graham Martin, aides, officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-09A, Unidentified military man walking. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, South Grounds. President Nixon, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-10A, President Nixon with unidentified woman. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing Portico. President Nixon, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-11A, Persons entering the presidential helicopter. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, South Grounds. President Nixon, unidentified persons.

  • 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-4195
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:31:19

      1. Newman/Jones: Laos. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      2. Newman/Levine: Construction wages and prices. Time Code Start: 02:31. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, labor, buildings, housing, wages, costs. Network: NBC.

      3. Mudd: Heaviest fighting on Ho Chi Minh Trail since beginning of Laos operation; 5 helicopters shot down. Time Code Start: 04:20. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, aircraft, accidents, Killed in Action, KIA, death tolls, fatalities. Network: CBS.

      4. Mudd: Retaliations to President Nixon's new budget. Time Code Start: 05:19. Keywords: reports, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, payments. Network: CBS.

      5. Mudd/Serafin: Senator McCloskey's comments on President Nixon policies. Time Code Start: 06:12. Keywords: Presidents, reports. Network: CBS.

      6. Mudd: Economic report. Time Code Start: 08:22. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports, speeches. Network: CBS.
    • WHCA-4211
      Excerpts From the "NBC Nightly News" Indochina War Coverage, Tape I (Weekly News Summary).
      NBC

      49. Newman: South Vietnamese troops stalled in Tchepone, Laos. Time Code Start: 54:21. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      50. Jones: Red China reactions to Laos invasion (People's Republic of China). Time Code Start: 55:22. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

      51. Newman: Mansfield on possible Red China entry into the Vietnam war (People's Republic of China). Time Code Start: 56:26. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)