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January 8, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, January 8, 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: Thursday, January 7, 1971

Next Date: Saturday, January 9, 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 San Clemente, California

  • 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.

  • 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. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

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

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

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

    • 88. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff Liaison at the National Security Council (Robinson) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, January 8, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 128, Country Files, Latin America, Cuba (2). Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Haig forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger on January 9 under the following typewritten note: “After our flurry the other day on nuclear submarines, Robbie was asked to prepare a detailed analysis of what various formulations of restrictive language would mean in terms of actual Soviet capabilities. I thought you should review this before your meeting with Dobrynin. My concern is that the restriction against nuclear submarines, if interpreted as propulsion only, is the worst case we could have.” Haig also wrote in the margin: “Spread sheet gives quick overview of problem.” Kissinger responded with a handwritten note of his own: “Al—Stop riding me on this. I’ve got the point & there is no more I can do.”

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

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

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

    • 194. Paper Prepared by the National Security Council Staff, Washington, January 8, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–050, Senior Review Group Meetings, SRG Meeting—Middle East 1–11–71. Secret; Nodis. All brackets are in the original.

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 10, 1970-April 2, 1971

    • 65. Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Posts, Washington, January 8, 1971, 2348Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 3 OPEC. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Clark; cleared by Trezise and in E/FSE, E/ORF/FSE, EUR/RPE, AF, S/S, and NEA/IRN; and approved by Katz. Sent to USOECD, London, Bonn, Brussels, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, The Hague, Luxembourg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Caracas, Tehran, Tripoli, Beirut, Dhahran, Jidda, Djakarta, Lagos, USEC Brussels, USNATO Brussels, and Algiers.

    • 66. Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Posts, Washington, January 8, 1971, 2236Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 3 OPEC. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Clark (E/ORF/FSE); cleared by Trezise and in E/FSE, E/ORF, S/S, and E; and approved by U. Alexis Johnson. Sent to USOECD Paris, London, Bonn, Brussels, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, The Hague, Luxembourg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Caracas, Tehran, Tripoli, Beirut, Jidda, Djakarta, Lagos, Dhahran, USEC Brussels, USNATO Brussels, and Algiers.

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

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

    International Cooperation in Space, 1969-1972

    • 248. Memorandum From Michael H. Guhin and Helmut G. Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, January 8, 1971

      Guhin and Sonnenfeldt provided briefing materials for Kissinger in advance of a meeting with acting NASA Administrator Low, who had planned a trip to the Soviet Union.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 249, Agency Files, NASA Vol. II. Confidential. Sent for information. Kissinger met with Low from 3:20 to 4:05 p.m. on January 12. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968-1976, Record of Schedule) No other record of that conversation has been found. Tab A is Document 237. An account of the NASA mission to Moscow, October 26-28, 1970, is printed in, Logsdon (ed.), Exploring the Universe, Vol. II, External Relations, Document I-45.

  • 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-5437 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5437-03-11, Flower arrangement in a basket. 1/8/1971, unknown unknown.

    Roll WHPO-5438 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5438-02-09, Christmas gingerbread house sent to President Nixon as a gift. 1/8/1971, unknown unknown. gingerbread house.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5438-11-18, Unidentified couple in front of a house. 1/8/1971, unknown unknown. unidentified couple.

    Roll WHPO-5440 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5440-03-36, President Nixon and Tricia Nixon greeting the crowd greeting them at Avalon, Catalina Island. 1/8/1971, Catalina Island, California Pebbly Beach, Avalon. President Nixon, Tricia Nixon, aides, crowd, Bebe Rebozo, Helen Thomas, press corps members.

    Roll WHPO-5441 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5441-02-06, President Nixon greeting a crowd at Pebbly Beach in Avalon, Catalina Island. 1/8/1971, Catalina Island, California Pebbly Beach. President Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Bebe Rebozo, aides, press corps members, sheriff department member, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5441-07-13, President Nixon and Tricia Nixon shaking hands and talking with a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. 1/8/1971, Catalina Island, California Pebbly Beach. President Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Bebe Rebozo, aides, press corps members, sheriff department member, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5441-14-24, President Nixon departing by helicopter. 1/8/1971, Catalina Island, California Pebbly Beach. President Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Bebe Rebozo, aides, press corps members, sheriff department member, crowd.

  • 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-4077
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      5. Smith/Donaldson: Unemployment. Time Code Start: 10:40. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: ABC.

      6. Gill: President Nixon and unemployment. Time Code Start: 12:22. Keywords: Presidents, jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: ABC.

      7. Smith/Scali: U.S.-Soviet relations. Time Code Start: 13:44. Keywords: diplomacy, politics, Soviet Union, Russia USSR. Network: ABC.

      8. Geer: Undercover narcotics (drugs) agent. Time Code Start: 17:04. Keywords: police, employees, arrests, drugs, alcohol, alcoholism, addicts, addiction, prevention, programs. Network: ABC.

      9. Smith: Commentary on the economy. Time Code Start: 20:38. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: ABC.

      10. Chancellor: Unemployment. Time Code Start: 22:30. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: NBC.

      11. Chancellor: U.S.-Soviet relations. Time Code Start: 23:16. Keywords: diplomacy, politics, Soviet Union, Russia USSR. Network: NBC.

      12. Chancellor/Nessen: Housing. Time Code Start: 25:20. Keywords: buildings, residences. Network: NBC.

      13. Kalb: Governor Reagan. Time Code Start: 27:33. Keywords: Governors. Network: NBC.

      14. Collingwood/Sargent: Unemployment. Time Code Start: 29:50. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics. Network: CBS.

      15. Collingwood/Kalb: Bombing of the Soviet building. Time Code Start: 32:10. Keywords: Soviet Union, Russia, USSR, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)