January 20, 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.

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.

• Remarks at a White House Staff Meeting on the Second Anniversary of the President's Inauguration.
• Executive Order 11581—Amending Executive Order No. 11248, Placing Certain Positions in Levels IV and V of the Federal Executive Salary Schedule
• Executive Order 11580—Establishing a Seal for the National Credit Union Administration

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, January 20, 1971

Argued

• Organization for a Better Austin v. Keefe
• United States v. Reidel
• United States v. Thirty-Seven (37) Photographs
• United Transportation Union v. State Bar of Michigan

Decided

• Mayberry v. Pennsylvania

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 - not yet online

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 January 20, 1971
• Date search for January 20, 1971

All National Archives Units

• Text search for January 20, 1971
• Date search for January 20, 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 20 January 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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

The NSC System

• 136. Draft Paper Prepared in the National Security Council, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 148, State/WH Relationship, Vol. 4. Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten notation on the source text reads: “Typed 4:15 p.m.” The paper was presumably prepared in connection with Kissinger’s meeting on January 20 with Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Shultz, and Mitchell that is described in Document 135.

Vol. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

Commodities and Strategic Materials, 1969-1972

• 439. Action Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 267, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Volume II 11/69-12/71. Secret. Forwarded to Kissinger under cover of a January 21 memorandum from Nachmanoff. A stamped notation reads: “The President has seen.”

Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

Chinese Representation in the United Nations

• 322. Memonradum of Conversation, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 CHICOM. Secret; Noforn; Exdis. Drafted January 26 by Feldman; cleared by Armitage, De Palma, Green, Shoesmith, and J. Theodore Papendorp; and approved in S/S-S on February 1.

• 323. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 CHICOM. Secret. Drafted on January 22 by Feldman and cleared by De Palma, Brown, and Armitage.

• 324. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, New York, January 20, 1971, 2130Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 CHICOM. Confidential. Repeated to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei.

Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

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

• 106. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 121, Vietnam Subject Files, Viet (POW), Vol. II. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” The President wrote the following note at the bottom of the first page: “Keep it up—We need a good story once every week or 10 days.”

Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

March 10, 1970-April 2, 1971

• 77. Telegram From the Embassy in Libya to the Department of State, Tripoli, January 20, 1971, 1106Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1271, Saunders Files, Middle East Oil, 1/1/71–2/1/71. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.

• 78. Telegram From the Under Secretary of State (Irwin) to the Department of State, Kuwait, January 20, 1971, 1510Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 620, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Vol. II. Secret; Nodis.

• 79. Telegram From the Under Secretary of State (Irwin) to the Department of State, Kuwait, January 20, 1971, 1625Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 3 OPEC. Secret; Immediate; Exdis.

Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

• 164. Intelligence Information Cable, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 685, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. VIII. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; No Dissem Abroad; Background Use Only; Routine. Prepared in the CIA.

Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

The Horn

• 307. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, January 20, 1971

  Kissinger told the President that Selassie was correct in stating that his countryʼs security situation had deteriorated over the past several years, but neither Somalia nor the Sudan was capable of mounting a sustained attack. Kissinger believed the Emperor feared that the United States intended to terminate its military assistance program (MAP), but MAP actually would continue as payment for Kagnew Station and as long as the Emperor was alive. Kissinger also reported that the ambassador in Addis Ababa had been instructed to deliver an oral message from the President to the Emperor informing him that the President understood his misgivings about Ethiopiaʼs long-range security and fully intended the United States to continue its significant military assistance program over the coming years. The President wished the Emperor to know that he was personally interested in Ethiopiaʼs security and had instructed the Executive Branch that Ethiopia would continue to have a priority claim on the resources available for military assistance to Africa.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Africa, Ethiopia, Vol. I. Secret. Sent for information. The memorandum is stamped: “The President Has Seen.” Another copy of the memorandum at Tab A, also undated and marked “Action” rather than “Information,” is at the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 292, Memoranda to the President, October 1970.

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-5498 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5498-03-37, President Nixon addressing members of White House staff on the second anniversary of the inauguration. 1/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Family Theatre. President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, Ron Ziegler, Donald Rumsfeld, Henry Kissinger, White House staff members.

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-321
  Nixon staff briefing with George Shultz, Peter Flanigan, John D. Ehrlichman, and Clark MacGregor. (1/20/1971, Family Theater, White House)
  
  Runtime: 50:00:00
  
  Keywords: Briefings, private briefings
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by KAP (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-710106
  Remarks by President Nixon in staff meeting. (1/20/1971)
  
  Runtime: 6:32
  
  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-4097
  The "Today" Show. Senator Muskie's Russian trip Senator Edmund Muskie.
  WETA
  Runtime: 0:30
• WHCA-4098
  "Kennedy and Company". Pierre Salinger, Press Secretary to President Kennedy.
  Group W Productions
  Runtime: 0:30
• WHCA-4099
  "The Dick Cavett Show" with Ted Williams, Mercedes McCambridge, Ben Gazarra. Mercedes McCambridge; Senator Edmund Muskie (D-ME).
  NBC
  Runtime: 01:31:00
• WHCA-4111
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  27. Reasoner/Giggans: Cambodia. Time Code Start: 49:29. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  28. Smith/Peterson: Cambodia (Secretary of Defense Laird). Time Code Start: 51:44. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, speeches, statements. Network: ABC.
  
  29. Smith/Jarrie: President Nixon and his policies. Time Code Start: 53:58. Keywords: Presidents, reports. Network: ABC.
  
  30. Smith/Clark: Revenue sharing (Representative Mills). Time Code Start: 55:38. Keywords: bills, laws, State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, financial aid. Network: ABC.
  
  31. Smith: Commentary on Congress and seniority. Time Code Start: 59:12. Keywords: House of Representatives, leaders. Network: ABC.
• WHCA-4112
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  1. Brinkley: Secretary of Defense Laird says legal ban on using United States ground forces in Cambodia applies only to combat troops, not support, supply, medical, or rescue personnel. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, statements, aid, support, rescues. Network: NBC.
  
  2. Brinkley: President Nixon delivers State of Union message; recommends revenue sharing; merging and rearranging several cabinet agencies. Time Code Start: 02:51. Keywords: Presidents, speeches. Network: NBC.
  
  3. Cronkite/Schieffer/Morton: Secretary of Defense Laird regarding Cambodia and White House reactions. Time Code Start: 03:43. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, speeches, statements. Network: CBS.
  
  4. Cronkite: Film of Vietnam prisoners. Time Code Start: 07:45. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of January 20, 1971

• AP Images photos from January 20, 1971
• Getty Images photos from January 20, 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.

• January 1971 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• January 20, 1971