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December 27, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, December 27, 1973, 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: Wednesday, December 26, 1973

Next Date: Friday, December 28, 1973

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

Any selection of archival documents will necessarily be partial. You should use the documents and folders identified below as a starting place, but consult the linked collection finding aids and folder title lists and the collections themselves for context. Many documents to be found this way do not lend themselves to association with specific dates, but are essential to a complete understanding of the material.

  • 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. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    • 421. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State, Amman, December 27, 1973, 0955Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1180, Harold H. Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations Files, Middle East—1973 Peace Negotiations, December 23, 1973 thru December 31, 1973 [2 of 2]. Secret; Flash; Nodis; Cherokee.

    Vol. E-3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973-1976

    Terrorism

  • 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 can be found in the National Archives Catalog.

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-E2040 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2040-, Milton Pitts, the White House barber, in his barber shop. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. Barber shop. Milton Pitts.

    Roll WHPO-E2041 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2041-, The Nixon family Christmas tree in the second floor residence at the White House. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, residential area.

    Roll WHPO-E2042 Photographer: Parish, William | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2042-, Mike Farrell presents framed art to an unidentified recipient. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. White House. Mike Farrell (White House Staff), unidentified recipient and her family, and unknown couple.

    Roll WHPO-E2043 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2043-, Milton Pitt, the White House barber, in his barber shop. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. Barber shop. Milton Pitts.

    Roll WHPO-E2044 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2044-02A-08A, A closeup view of an audio tape recorder plugged in and set on the floor near a wall curtain underneath a small end table behind Rose Mary Woods' desk area. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Mary Woods' office.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2044-09A-10A, An audio tape recorder plugged in and set on the floor near a wall curtain, underneath a small end table behind Rose Mary Woods' desk area. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Mary Woods' office.

    Roll WHPO-E2045 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2045-, A Christmas season White House Candle Light Tour. 12/27/1973, Washington, D.C. White House. Candlelighters group on tour.

    Roll WHPO-E2047 Photographer: Ziegler, Ron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2047-, President Nixon traveling on United commercial flight (UAL Flight 55, per NBC news story from 1973) from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles International airport. President Nixon greeting passengers and holding a passenger's young toddler child. 12/27/1973, US air space enroute to Los Angeles United Airlines plane, UAL #55. President Nixon, unidentified airline passengers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2047-, President Nixon greeting passengers while traveling on United commercial flight (UAL Flight 55, per NBC news story from 1973) from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. To Los Angeles International Airport. 12/27/1973, US air space enroute to Los Angeles United Airlines plane, UAL #55. President Nixon, unidentified child.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2047-12, President Nixon holding a passenger's young toddler child while traveling on United commercial flight (UAL Flight 55, per NBC news story from 1973) from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. To Los Angeles International Airport. 12/27/1973, US air space enroute to Los Angeles United Airlines plane, UAL #55. President Nixon, unidentified child.

  • 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.

    S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

    • WHCA-SR-S-426
      Press briefing by Herber Stein. (12/27/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 42:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

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

      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-6713
      "The Crisis of the Presidency". A discussion of the implications of the Watergate scandal on the institution of the Presidency.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:08:46
    • WHCA-6718
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Reasoner/Peterson: Fuel shortage and gas rationing plan. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, allocations. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner/Shumacher: President Nixon's flight on a United Airlines commercial flight to California. Time Code Start: 02:40. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, flights, aviation industry, commercial airlines, aircraft, planes, jets, airliners. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner/Landay: Air Force One (AF1). Time Code Start: 05:55. Keywords: Presidents, aircraft, planes, transportation, Boeing 707 SAM 27000, Boeing 707 SAM 26000, travel, trips. Network: ABC.

      4. Chancellor/Levine: Gas rationing plan announced with William Simon. Time Code Start: 08:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, energy. Network: NBC.

      5. Chancellor/Brokaw: Criticism of President Nixon's surprise trip on a United Airlines commercial flight from Secret Service and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Time Code Start: 11:27. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, commercial airlines, aircraft, security, government agencies, Federal Aviation Administration. Network: NBC.

      6. Chancellor/Mackin: More on President Nixon's trip on a United Airlines commercial flight to California. Time Code Start: 13:51. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, flights, aviation industry, commercial airlines, aircraft, planes, jets, airliners. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor/Valeriani: Secretary of State Kissinger's press conference. Time Code Start: 16:37. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: NBC.

      8. Mudd/Shaw: Standby gas rationing plan announced with William Simon. Time Code Start: 19:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, energy. Network: CBS.

      9. Mudd/Kalb: Secretary of State Kissinger's press conference. Time Code Start: 20:48. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: CBS.

      10. Mudd/Wagner: President Nixon's surprise trip on a United Airlines commercial flight to California. Time Code Start: 23:07. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, flights, aviation industry, commercial airlines, aircraft, planes, jets, airliners. Network: CBS.

      11. Reasoner/Bergman: Big companies stockpiling oil. Time Code Start: 25:48. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, corporations, collecting, storage. Network: ABC.

      12. Reasoner/Geer: About President Nixon's Operation Candor with Secretary of Defense Laird. Time Code Start: 28:56. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations, Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, burglary, impeachment, resignations, investigations. Network: ABC.

      13. Chancellor/Hunt: William Simon outlines the energy rules, and a rush on gasoline in New York. Time Code Start: 31:39. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, energy. Network: NBC.

      14. Chancellor/Levine: Simon says if long lines begin forming for fuel then rationing will ensue with Hill. Time Code Start: 34:40. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy crisis, oil crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, allocations, energy. Network: NBC.

      15. Chancellor/Brokaw: President Nixon may change his mind about making summaries of White House tapes; Secretary of Defense Laird says there are no senior staff members who believe that President Nixon may not be innocent. Time Code Start: 36:23. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      16. Chancellor/Duke: Senate Watergate committee may be at an end. Time Code Start: 39:07. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)