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December 3, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, December 3, 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: Sunday, December 2, 1973

Next Date: Tuesday, December 4, 1973

Schedule and Public 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

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    October 6, 1973-March 22, 1974

    • 258. Letter From President Nixon to King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Washington, December 3, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 139, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Nov–Dec 1973. No classification marking. According to a December 1 memorandum from Scowcroft to Nixon, the letter, which Kissinger suggested be sent to Faisal, “is framed in such a way as to provide a useful vehicle for those in the Saudi government who are prepared to make efforts to relax the oil embargo.” He added that the letter was also designed to “reassure the King regarding your seriousness of purpose in working for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 5, Chronological File A, December 1–11, 1973) The signed original reached Jidda on December 22. (Telegram 5663 to Jidda, December 23; National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 630, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Vol. IV)

    • 259. Message From Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Riyadh, December 3, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 139, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Nov–Dec 1973. Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten notation on the first page indicates the message was received in the White House at 5:14 p.m.

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

    Law of the Sea

    • 9. National Security Decision Memorandum 240, Washington, December 3, 1973

      Kissinger transmitted the approval of instructions for the guidance of the U.S. delegation to the organizational session of UNCLOS III, with a proviso to avoid procedures allowing premature substantive voting.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 364, Subject Files, NSDM, Nos. 145–264 (1972–1974). Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretary of Transportation, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs. The Under Secretaries Committee Chairman’s memorandum of November 11 is published as Document 7. NSDM 225 is published as Document 5.

    • 10. Report of the U.S. Delegation to the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea Organizational Session, New York, December 3, 1973

      The report summarized the negotiations at the UNCLOS III Organizational Session and assessed the results with regard to U.S. interests.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740084–2149. No classification marking. Stevenson forwarded the report to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger under a covering memorandum of March 14, 1974.

    Vol. E-6, Documents on Africa, 1973-1976

    Guinea Bissau

    • 71. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, December 3, 1973, 3:10 p.m.

      Kissinger and his senior Department of State staff debated whether to press Portugal for a change in policy toward its African territories. Kissinger asked for a NSSM to study the issue.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 1, Secretary’s Analytical Staff Meetings. Secret.

  • 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-E1883 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1883-01-10, President Nixon in the Oval Office with Secretary Shultz and Henry Kissinger. 12/3/1973, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, George Shultz, Henry Kissinger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1883-11-12, President Nixon in the Oval Office Senator John Sherman Cooper. 12/3/1973, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, John Sherman Cooper.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1883-14-24, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office congratulating Admiral Rickover after the ceremony promoting him from Vice Admiral Director of the Division of Naval Reactors of the Atomic Energy Commission to the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Navy. 12/3/1973, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1883-24, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office congratulating Admiral Rickover after the ceremony promoting him from Vice Admiral Director of the Division of Naval Reactors of the Atomic Energy Commission to the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Navy. 12/3/1973, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.

    Roll WHPO-E1884 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1884-02-10, President Nixon standing in the Oval office with Congressman Kuykendall and Carl E. Friend with a recording of American history. 12/3/1973, Washington, D. C. Oval Office.

    Roll WHPO-E1885 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1885-02-18, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office congratulating Admiral Rickover after the ceremony promoting him from Vice Admiral Director of the Division of Naval Reactors of the Atomic Energy Commission to the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Navy. 12/3/1973, Washington, D. C. Oval Office. President Nixon, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Director of the Division of Naval Reactors of the Atomic Energy Commission. Dixy Lee Ray, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. William Wegner, Division of Naval Reactors, Atomic Energy Commission. David Leighton, Division of Naval Reactors, Atomic Energy Commission Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. John W. Warner, Secretary of the Navy. Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., Chief of Naval Operations, JCS. Senators: George D. Aiken (R-Vermont). Strom Thurmond (R-South Carolina). Henry M. Jackson (D-Washington). Congressmen: William G. Bray (R-Indiana). Craig Hosmer (R-California). Melvin Price (D-Illinois). Chet Holifield (D-California).
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1885-04, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office congratulating Admiral Rickover (Director of the Division of Naval Reactors of the Atomic Energy Commission) after the ceremony promoting him from Vice Admiral to the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Navy. 12/3/1973, Washington, D. C. Oval Office. President Nixon, John W. Warner, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.

  • 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.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-731201
      Photo opportunity for promotion of V. Adm. Hyman Rickover with Rickover. (12/3/1973)

      Runtime: 4:29

      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-6694
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Smith/Jarriel/Peterson: John Love resigns as energy advisor. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner/Murphy: Sunday gas sales and traffic in Florida. Time Code Start: 02:41. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, transportation. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner/Mariano: Viet Cong cripple South Vietnam's oil reserves. Time Code Start: 04:47. Keywords: Vietnam War, People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), National Liberation Front (NLF), VC. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Clark: Campaign financing bill by public defeated. Time Code Start: 06:33. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, reforms, legislation, bills, laws, voting, vetoes, funding, finances, donations, contributions. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith/Geer: Harris Poll on Americans attitude about government. Time Code Start: 08:19. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, governments, officials. Network: ABC.

      6. Smith: Commentary on campaign dollars. Time Code Start: 10:42. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, currency, monetary values, exchange rates, decreases, wages, costs, increases. Network: ABC.

      7. Chancellor/Levine: John Love resigns as energy advisor. Time Code Start: 12:21. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: NBC.

      8. Chancellor/Paxton: United Mine Workers Union president Miller blames oil companies for the energy shortage. Time Code Start: 14:32. Keywords: petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, sales, costs, increases. Network: NBC.

      9. Chancellor: Oil company profits. Time Code Start: 16:13. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, sales, costs, increases. Network: NBC.

      10. Chancellor: Judge Sirica listens to tapes (Watergate). Time Code Start: 16:36. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      11. Chancellor/Duke: Public financing of campaigns with Senator Allen, Weicker, Scott and Mansfield. Time Code Start: 17:10. Keywords: elections, campaigns, candidates, finances, funding, money, donations, contributions. Network: NBC.

      12. Chancellor: Harris poll of American's attitude on government. Time Code Start: 19:33. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, governments, officials. Network: NBC.

      13. Chancellor: President Nixon's taxes. Time Code Start: 20:01. Keywords: Presidents, Internal Revenue Service, taxes, taxation, revenue, audits, investigations, state taxes. Network: NBC.

      14. Chancellor/Pettit: The energy crisis, where will we get our oil and how the government messed up. Time Code Start: 20:44. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: NBC.

      15. Cronkite/Rather/Walker: John Love resigns as energy advisor. Time Code Start: 27:28. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: CBS.

      16. Cronkite/Shaw: President Nixon asks Congress to relax auto emission standards; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposes move with Train. Time Code Start: 30:50. Keywords: Presidents, House of Representatives, meetings, requests, laws, pollution, anti-pollution, smog, cars, automobiles, emissions. Network: CBS.

      17. Cronkite/Henderson: Fuel oil problems in New England. Time Code Start: 33:05. Keywords: energy crisis, oil crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, allocations, sales, costs, increases. Network: CBS.

      18. Cronkite/Graham: Judge Sirica listens to White House tapes (Watergate). Time Code Start: 35:12. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      19. Cronkite/Morton: Public financing of campaigns defeated with Senator Allen. Time Code Start: 36:41. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, funding, fundraising, donations, contributions. Network: CBS.

      20. Cronkite: food prices. Time Code Start: 38:24. Keywords: food, meat, agriculture, plants, animal products, dairy products, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: CBS.

      21. Sevareid: Commentary on the good or bad news of the energy crisis. Time Code Start: 38:54. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

      22. Cronkite: Harris Poll on American attitudes. Time Code Start: 41:50. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)