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October 15, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, October 15, 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, October 14, 1971

Next Date: Saturday, October 16, 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.

  • 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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    The Intelligence Community and the White House

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

    Foreign Assistance Policy, 1969-1972

    • 68. Letter From the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Hannah) to President Nixon, Washington, October 15, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 195, AID 1/1/71-12/31/71. Limited Official Use. Attached to an October 21 letter from Shultz to Haig, which confirmed OMB’s concurrence (with minor revisions) with Hannah’s proposed statement at the OECD. Also attached is an October 28 memorandum from Hormats to Haig indicating that Hannah’s letter had had the effect of “smoking out a decision” on whether the 10 percent reduction in foreign aid (from $1,840 to $1,653 million) would be handled administratively (i.e., frozen) or through legislation (see footnote 4 below). Hormats’ memorandum indicates that the letter did not go forward to the President.

    Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

    South Asia Crisis, 1971

    • 168. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India, Washington, October 15, 1971, 0222Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL INDIA–PAK. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Schneider on October 13; cleared by Curtis W. Kammon (EUR/SOV), Laingen, Van Hollen, and Haig; and approved by Acting Secretary Irwin. Also sent to Moscow and repeated to Islamabad, USUN, Tehran, London, Calcutta, Dacca, and Paris.

    Vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

    Announcement of Summit Through the South Asia Crisis, October 12-December 1971

    • 4. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 15, 1971, 8:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 492, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1971, Vol. 8. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the Soviet Embassy. This memorandum of conversation is attached to an undated and unsigned memorandum to the President summarizing the discussion.

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China,January-September 1971

    • 159. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 15, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 522, Country Files, Far East, China, Vol. IX. Secret; Sensitive. According to an October 21 covering memorandum from Froebe, Kissinger did not want the memorandum of conversation distributed outside the NSC. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office from 4:33 to 5 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–1976, Record of Schedule)

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

    April-October 1971: Change and Reassessment

    • 101. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 15, 1971, 9:30 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VI, October–31 December 1971. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office. According to an October 21 covering memorandum from Froebe to Haig, Kissinger approved the October 15 memorandum and requested that no further distribution be made. (Ibid.)

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

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

    Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks

    Vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

    Indian Ocean

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

    Ireland

    Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

    Iran 1971

    • 150. Telegram 189359 From the Department of State to the U.S. Delegation to the 25th Centenary Celebration in Shiraz, Iran, Washington, October 15, 1971, 2001Z

      The Department reported that a bombing at the Iranian Consulate General in San Francisco had left no casualties, and that a suspect had been immediately apprehended.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 17 IRAN-US. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated Immediate to Tehran. Drafted by Timothy W. Childs (NEA/IRN); cleared by Davies, Michael J. Tretola (SY), Robert T. Curran (S/S), Charles D. Maguire (A/OPR), and Hampton Davis (S/CPR); and approved by Miklos. As indicated by its round-up of dissidents, the Iranian Government had anticipated terrorist acts during the celebrations, which had been broadly condemned by many Iranians as “expensive, unnecessary and tasteless.” (Stanley T. Escudero to Michael G. Michaud, Ibid., NEA/IRN, Office of Iran Affairs, Lot File 75D365, Box 7, POL 1, General Policy and Background, Iran 1972)

    Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

    • 34. Memorandum for the Record, Paris, October 15, 1971, 11 a.m., Paris, October 15, 1971, 11 a.m.

      After Military Attaché Walters relayed information about President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s communications operations for his upcoming trip to China, interpreters Tsao and Wei asked about the role of the military and the racial question in U.S. politics.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, July 1971-Oct 20, 1971. No classification marking. Ellipses in the source text. Drafted by Walters on October 15.

  • 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.

    Cabinet Room

    Oval Office

    White House Telephone

  • 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-7508 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7508-02-12, President Nixon sitting at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Henry Kissinger speaking of his arrangements just before Kissinger's China Advance "Polo" trip. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7508-02A, President Nixon sitting at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Henry Kissinger speaking of his arrangements just before Kissinger's China Advance "Polo" trip. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.

    Roll WHPO-7510 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7510-03-07, Gerald Ford with an unidentified White House policeman. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Gerald Ford, unidentified policemen.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7510-08-12, Gerald Ford with unidentified White House policeman. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House. Gerald Ford, unidentified policemen.

    Roll WHPO-7511 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7511-01A-08A, Pat Price of the White House Tour Office receiving a presentation. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House grounds. Pat Price, unidentified men, women, and children.

    Roll WHPO-7512 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7512-02-11, Staff members preparing for the Kissinger's advance China Tour. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. staff members.

    Roll WHPO-7513 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7513-02-05, Pat Price receiving pictures of the first war office from Harry Morse. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Price, Harry Morse.

    Roll WHPO-7514 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7514-02A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon arriving at the airport. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Douglas Municipal Airport. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Billy Graham, officials, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7514-03A-11A, President Nixon waving to crowd in a motorcade with Rev. Billy Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Billy Graham, officials, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7514-12A-15A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon with Rev. Billy Graham at a ceremony honoring Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Billy Graham, officials, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-7515 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7515-02-04, President Nixon and Rev. Billy Graham waving to the crowd from the top of a limo during a motorcade in Chartlotte, N.C. on their way to participate in ceremonies honoring Rev. Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets. President Nixon, Billy Graham, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7515-03, President Nixon and Rev. Billy Graham waving to the crowd from the top of a limo during a motorcade in Chartlotte, N.C. on their way to participate in ceremonies honoring Rev. Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets. President Nixon, Billy Graham, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7515-05-08, President Nixon and Rev. Billy Graham at the podium together during a ceremony honoring Rev. Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum. President Nixon, Billy Graham, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7515-09-17, President Nixon speaking at the podium together during a ceremony honoring Rev. Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets, Charlotte Coliseum, Douglas Municipal Airport. President Nixon, Billy Graham, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7515-17, President Nixon and Billy Graham shaking hands during a ceremony honoring Rev. Billy Graham, in front of the bronze commemorative plaque to be placed at the house where Graham was born. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets, Charlotte Coliseum, Douglas Municipal Airport. President Nixon, Billy Graham.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7515-18, President Nixon and Rev. Billy Graham at the airport prior to departure from North Carolina. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Douglas Municipal Airport. President Nixon, Billy Graham, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-7517 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7517-03-37, White House decorative object details, including lamp shades and candelbra base. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7517-04, Close-up of Coromandel screen at the White House. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House. Coromandel screen, Needlepoint.

    Roll WHPO-7518 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7518-03, Close-up of White House crown molding. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House. White House, Crown molding.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7518-04-09, White House decorative object details, including candle holder. 10/15/1971, Washington, D.C. White House.

    Roll WHPO-7519 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7519-01A-05A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon being greeted after arriving at the airport. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Douglas Municipal Airport. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Connally Nellie Connally, Billy Graham, Mrs. Graham, aides, audience.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7519-06A-07A, President Nixon and Rev. Billy Graham waving at the crowd in a motorcade. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Connally Nellie Connally, Billy Graham, Mrs. Graham, aides, audience.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7519-08A-29A, The audience and the stage during a ceremony honoring Rev. Billy Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Connally Nellie Connally, Billy Graham, Mrs. Graham, aides, audience.

    Roll WHPO-7520 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7520-01A-10A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon shaking hands with officials prior to departure. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Douglas Municipal Airport. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Billy Graham, Mrs. Graham, officials, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-7521 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7521-02-03, President Nixon waving to the crowd from his motorcade on the way to a ceremony at Charlotte Coliseum honoring Rev. Billy Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, aides, crowd, audience.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7521-04-22, President Nixon attending a ceremony at Charlotte Coliseum honoring Rev. Billy Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, aides, crowd, audience.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7521-08, President Nixon speaking at the podium on stage during a ceremony honoring Rev. Billy Graham. A large bronze commemorative plaque to be placed at the house where Graham was born stands on stage nearby. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum. President Nixon, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7521-23-25, President Nixon and Pat Nixon leaving the Charlotte Coliseum after a ceremony honoring Rev. Billy Graham. 10/15/1971, Charlotte, North Carolina streets, Charlotte Coliseum. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, aides, crowd, audience.

  • 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-445
      Press briefing by Peter Peterson and Ronald Ziegler. (10/15/1971, Press Center, White House)

      Runtime: 20:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JRS (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-H-446
      Press briefing by Donald Rumsfeld and Ronald Ziegler. (10/15/1971, Press Center, White House)

      Runtime: 20:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JRS (initials of WHCA engineer)

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-711010
      Remarks by President Nixon at Billy Graham Testimonial Day at Charlotte College, Charlotte, NC. (10/15/1971)

      Runtime: 19:27

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-711011
      Remarks by President Nixon on departure from Charlotte. (10/15/1971)

      Runtime: 8:49

      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-4744
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Smith/Gill: Wage and price board; textile import restrictions. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, trade, fabrics, imports, exports. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Reynolds: Poll on wage/price freeze. Time Code Start: 02:05. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, employment, employees, salaries, salary, payments, freezes, controls. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith/Locke: Mr. H.H. (possibly Hubert Humphrey) Friday, possible Supreme Court Judge. Time Code Start: 04:35. Keywords: law officials, judges, justices, courts, trials, investigations, nominees, Lewis Powell, William Rehnquist. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Jarriel: President Nixon in North Carolina with Reverend Billy Graham. Time Code Start: 07:05. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, speeches, religion, leaders, celebrations, commemorations, holidays. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith: Commentary on consumers. Time Code Start: 08:58. Keywords: product users, retail buyers, shoppers. Network: ABC.

      6. Chancellor: Japanese textile import restrictions. Time Code Start: 10:38. Keywords: Japanese, trade, imports, textiles, materials. Network: NBC.

      7. Levine: Canada unemployment due to U.S. import policy. Time Code Start: 13:30. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, statistics, Canadian, trade, imports, exports. Network: NBC.

      8. Chancellor: Guidelines of Phase II not set. Time Code Start: 16:15. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      9. Brinkley: Tax cuts. Time Code Start: 16:55. Keywords: Congress, bills, laws, reforms, taxes, taxation, revenue, reductions, decreases. Network: NBC.

      10. Chancellor/Kaplow: President Nixon at Charlotte, North Carolina, on Reverend Billy Graham Day. Time Code Start: 18:54. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, speeches, religion, leaders, celebrations, commemorations, holidays. Network: NBC.

      11. Cronkite/Rather: President Nixon meets Reverend Billy Graham at Charlotte, North Carolina. Time Code Start: 20:38. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, speeches, religion, leaders, celebrations, commemorations, holidays. Network: CBS.

      12. Cronkite: Phase II boards set. Time Code Start: 23:52. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: CBS.

      13. Cronkite/Morton: Textile imports limited. Time Code Start: 24:35. Keywords: trade, imports, exports, products. Network: CBS.

      14. Cronkite/Dunning: Governor Reagan congratulates South Vietnam's President Thieu. Time Code Start: 26:23. Keywords: South Vietnam, Presidents, speeches, statements, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)