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April 13, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, April 13, 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: Monday, April 12, 1971

Next Date: Wednesday, April 14, 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.

  • 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.

  • Selective document listing

    President's Office Files

    The President's Office Files consists of materials drawn together by the Special Files Unit from several administrative subdivisions within the White House Office. It is the handwriting and sensitive papers sent to the Staff Secretary that now comprise much of the President's Office Files. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 30, News Summaries - April 1971 [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. In addition to the individual document(s) listed below, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]
      • [4/13/71]
      • News Summary, April 13, 1971, Television Report (Monday night telecasts)

  • 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)
      Tuesday, April 13.

      A reasonably busy day for the President, but a lot of free time in between meetings, so he kept calling me in and out as the day went along. After a general discussion of odds and ends this morning, he got Henry in and, in comparing his problems to those of previous Presidents, mentioned that he had Henry up to the Lincoln Room for dinner last night and that had gotten him to thinking, as they were talking there, about the many problems that other Presidents had, and certainly some of them been-- had been great. Ours were probably more substantial than anyone except Lincoln, whose problems overshadowed everyone's by a wide margin. He commented on the point that Lincoln had the cannons in the street in New York to shoot draft resisters; that his-- he had a rebellious Cabinet; Stanton wouldn't speak to him; his wife's insanity and her two brothers killed in the Southern side of the war, etcetera. And all of those, added up, make our situation look pretty simple.

      He then got into a discussion of China policy, arising partly out of Scali's recommendation that we do something to recognize the US Ping-Pong team when it comes back from the tour in China. The thought here is that we're making some progress, but we can't start claiming any success or doing any public events such as that, because it will get in the way of the future progress; and the President wants to be sure that we get full advantage out of everything we do, but not to the extent that it impedes moving to the next step.

      He had Scali in a little later in the morning with Henry to welcome him aboard. He made the point to him that he had to work very closely with Henry, and that he should concentrate on the influentials in the TV and press world. He emphasized the need for Scali to not to try to get into full gear for the first couple of weeks and warned him that his job would be very frustrating at times, especially when ideas that he comes up with are not implemented. Scali seems to understand this.

      Ehrlichman and I had a brief meeting with him on the Hoover question. John Mitchell had called Ehrlichman to say that Hoover has sent a memo around to the top numbers of the Bureau, telling them not to route their domestic intelligence information to Mardian, which is directly contrary to our orders, and also implying that, at the direct order of the President, Hoover has been doing some wiretapping and other high-level surveillance. Neither of these is true, and John wanted to check them out with the President for the Attorney General, so he'll know how to approach the situation.

      We got into a discussion, after Henry came in, on Ambassadors and agreed to send Governor Whitcomb to Australia instead of the Philippines, as we had earlier decided. We have to get him out of Indiana, and since we have to get Rice out of Australia, we can put the two together. Then he wants to send Byroade from the Philippines to Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia, and
      Porter from Korea to replace Byroade.

      He had a fairly long meeting with Connally and called me right afterwards, started to report it on the phone and then asked me to come over to the office. He obviously was very pleased with the talk. Connally had made the strong point that we've got to take somebody on when something comes up. For example, he thinks Rogers should have hit Muskie and Hubert when they attacked the President on-- after his speech on the withdrawal program. Connally feels the problem is that our people don't hit anybody and that we've got to do that. He also made the point again of the failure to show personal concern, no warmth, no human qualities, and that this has to come from the little things, because you can't do it in the big appearances. The President feels the problem is the total coldness of writer-- our speech writers and our failure to broker the little things that we need to get the story through with. Connally told him he felt the press conferences were too competent and cool, that the Howard Smith interview was better and the speech was even better than that.

      But then he got back to the Cabinet and made the point that they've got to stand up and fight, not just be positive; they have to attack somebody in order to make news. This led to the discussion-- a discussion of whether we ought to make some Cabinet changes, and the President's inclined to think we should, that we don't have anybody in the Cabinet who really is a first-rate spokesman. Connally feels that the Congress is not the place we should look to for getting our attacks answered, that the Cabinet should do it, and that we've got to face the fact that just doing a good job isn't enough. The real question also posed is whether we change the President's own approach to the press conferences and interviews, and so forth, to try to add emotion and warmth to them. He does feel that he can try to get some more schmaltz into the speeches, make them warm instead of brittle, make the anecdotes warm and find a way to work them in.

      They discussed Agnew, and Connally feels that he can survive if he stays on his present course and doesn't go overboard. The President doesn't agree. He's told me to have a private talk with Connally regarding the Vice Presidency and start getting him built up and ready for it. He agreed with the idea of considering moving Stans to Finance Chairman and putting a strong spokesman to the Commerce slot. In thinking about welfare, he feels that we ought to really kick up our action on welfare reform, but maybe drop family assistance. He wants me discuss this with Ehrlichman, as well as taking a hard look at the Cabinet with John. The President's favorably inclined toward the fairly wild proposal we made that he fly out to California to welcome the First Marine Division home, and we're exploring ways and means of trying to work that out.

      End of February—End of April 13.
    • Original audio recording (MP3)

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

    Foreign Assistance Policy, 1969-1972

    • 60. Action Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs (Peterson) to President Nixon, Washington, April 13, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 195, AID 1/1/71-12/31/71. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Kissinger, Shultz, MacGregor, Ziegler, and Klein. The memorandum is attached to an April 15 memorandum from Bergsten to Kissinger concerning Kissinger’s subsequent decision not to participate in the April 20 Congressional briefings and the press briefing. Bergsten pointed out that the package would have a “rough time” with Congress and asked Kissinger to reconsider. Kissinger declined and designated Schlesinger instead.

    East-West Trade, 1969-1972

    • 329. National Security Decision Memorandum 105, Washington, April 13, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 83 D 305, NSDM 105. Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce, the Chairman of the JCS, and the Director of USIA. The President made a public announcement of these decisions on April 14; see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard Nixon, 1971, pp. 530-531.

    Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

    The Consequences of Operation Lan Som 719 and the Search for a Settlement, April 8-October 6, 1971

    • 179. Minutes of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group, Washington, April 13, 1971, 3:09-4 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H-112, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Nodis. All brackets are in the original.

    • 180. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Bunker), Washington, April 13, 1971, 1539Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 869, For the President’s Files-Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Cables, 10/69–12/31/71. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. In an April 12 memorandum to Kissinger, Lord wrote the following: “I know I am preaching to the converted when I say now is the time for an all-out effort for a negotiated settlement in Indochina.” He recommended contacting Bunker to get his opinion on how to deal with Thieu. (Ibid., Box 853, For the President’s Files-Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Camp David, Vol. VII)

    Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

    South Asia Crisis, 1971

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

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

    • 174. Conversation Among President Nixon, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), the White House Chief of Staff (Haldeman), and the President’s Special Consultant (Scali), Washington, April 13, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Conversation 478–7. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting began at 11:19 a.m.; Scali and Haldeman left at 11:46 and Kissinger remained until 12:16 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files)

    • 175. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 13, 1971, 5 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 491, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 5 [part 1]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Kissinger forwarded the memorandum of conversation and an undated memorandum summarizing its contents to the President. A note on the covering memorandum indicates that the President saw it. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, the meeting lasted from 5:30 until 5:45 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–76)

    • 176. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, April 13, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Conversation 1–79. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met Kissinger in the Oval Office from 7:46 to 7:52 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files) An informal transcript of the conversation is ibid., Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 9, Chronological File.

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China,January-September 1971

    Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

    Republic of Korea Troops in Vietnam and Force Modernization, April 1971-December 1972

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

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

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

    Persian Gulf States

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    Turkey

    • 443. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey, Washington, April 13, 1971, 1945Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 633, Country Files—Middle East, Turkey, Vol. II. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Ogden; cleared by Sisco, Cash, H.R. Wellman (S/NM), Davies, Johnson, and Eliot; cleared for information by Ingersoll, Eugene Rossides (Treasury), MacDonald, F.A. Bartimo (OSD/COUNS), and CIA; approved by Rogers.

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    MBFR and the Conference on European Security, December 1970-December 1971

    • 45. National Security Study Memorandum 121, Washington, April 13, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda, Nos. 104–206. Secret. Copies were sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of Central Intelligence.

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

    Western Europe Region and NATO

    • 60. National Security Study Memorandum 121, Washington, April 13, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda (NSSM’s)—Nos. 104–206. Secret. Copies were sent to the Director of Central Intelligence and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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

    U.S. Policy Towards International Production and Trafficking in Illegal Drugs

    Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

    Nuclear Test Ban Issues; Peaceful Nuclear Explosions

    • 299. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Under Secretaries Committee (Irwin) to President Nixon, Washington, April 13, 1971

      Irwin reported on the underground nuclear test program for the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 1971, focusing specifically on the venting of radioactive material into the atmosphere following the December 18, 1968 test at Baneberry.

      Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–74–83, 334 NSC–U (March–April). Secret; Restricted Data. The attachments to the Under Secretaries Committee’s report are not published. The President approved the test program in a May 5 letter to Seaborg. (Ibid., May 1971)

    Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Tunisia

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Jamaica

    • 423. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Irwin) to President Nixon, Washington, April 13, 1971., Washington, April 13, 1971

      The Department of State reported on the inter-agency commission that had been sent to Jamaica to examine social and economic problems there. The commission recommended selective assistance through AID, trade relations, and international organizations.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 786, Country Files, Latin America, Jamaica, Vol. I. No classification marking. The “Report of the Commission to Jamaica” was not enclosed. Irwin’s memorandum was forwarded to Haig under a April 16 covering memorandum from Nachmanoff, in which Nachmanoff stated, “I am holding the full report in my files,” which he did not believe was worth sending to the President. Haig concurred with Nachmanoff’s decision by initialing and writing, “OK.”

  • 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

Context (External Sources)