April 20, 1973

The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

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.

• Federal Register of Friday, April 20, 1973

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.

• News Summaries, Unmarked News Summaries, Box 55, News Summaries - Apr. 16-30, 1973 [4 of 7] [Note: Due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]
  • News Summary, April 20, 1973

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)
• 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

• Text search for April 20, 1973
• Date search for April 20, 1973

All National Archives Units

• Text search for April 20, 1973
• Date search for April 20, 1973

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 20 April 1973

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. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

March 8-October 5, 1973

• 178. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Schlesinger to President Nixon, Washington, April 20, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 51, Presidential Daily Briefings. Eyes Only For the President.

• 179. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (Armstrong) to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Casey), Washington, April 20, 1973

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, OECD 3. Confidential. Drafted by Bennsky and Mau; and concurred in by EB/ORF, EUR/RPE, L/EB, and SCI.

• 180. Conversation Between President Nixon and Members of the Cabinet, Washington, April 20, 1973, 8:39-10:35 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Conversation 123–2. No classification marking. The meeting occurred in the White House Cabinet Room and the tape recording begins after the meeting commenced. This transcript was prepared in the Office of the Historian specifically for this volume.

Vol. E-9, Documents on North Africa, 1973-1976

Libya, 1973-1976

• 16. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the 40 Committee (Ratliff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, April 20, 1973

  [Source: National Security Council, Nixon Administration Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Libya, Box 9, February 10, 1970–June 26, 1973. Secret. 2 pages not declassified.]

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.

Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

Cabinet Room

• 123-2; 8:39 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cabinet officers; Casey, William J.; Shultz, George P.; Clements, William P., Jr.; Kleindienst, Richard G.; Sneed, Joseph T.; Whitaker, John C.; Wakefield, Stephen A.; Butz, Earl L.; Campbell, J. Philip; Dent, Frederick B.; Letson, William N.; Brennan, Peter J.; Schubert, Richard F.; Weinberger, Caspar W. ("Cap"); Carlucci, Frank C., III; Lynn, James T.; Hyde, Floyd H.; Brinegar, Claude S.; Krogh, Egil ("Bud"), Jr.; Armstrong, Anne L.; Bush, George H. W.; Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; Gergen, David R.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Price, Raymond K., Jr.; Timmons, William E.; Stein, Herbert; Clawson, Kenneth W.; White House photographer

Oval Office

• 903-1; 8:15 a.m. - 8:39 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 903-2; Unknown between 8:39 a.m. & 10:36 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-3; Unknown between 8:39 a.m. & 10:36 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-4; Unknown between 10:35 a.m. & 10:57 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Bush, George H. W.
• 903-5; Unknown between 10:57 a.m. & 11:07 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-6; 11:07 a.m. - 11:23 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 903-7; Unknown between 11:23 a.m. & 11:32 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-8; Unknown between 11:23 a.m. & 11:32 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 903-9; Unknown between 11:23 a.m. & 11:32 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-10; Unknown between 11:23 a.m. & 11:32 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 903-11; 11:32 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Petersen, Henry E.
• 903-12; Unknown between 11:40 a.m. & 11:43 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-13; Unknown between 11:40 a.m. & 11:43 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 903-14; 11:43 a.m. - 12:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
• 903-15; Unknown between 12:02 p.m. & 12:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 903-16; 12:04 p.m. - 12:07 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Brennan, Peter J.
• 903-17; Unknown between 12:07 p.m. & 12:15 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 903-18; Unknown between 12:07 p.m. & 12:15 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 903-19; 12:15 p.m. - 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.
• 903-20; 12:34 p.m. - 12:37 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Moore, Richard A.
• 903-21; Unknown between 12:37 p.m. & 11:59 p.m.; [Unknown person(s)]

White House Telephone

• 38-128; Unknown between 11:23 a.m. & 11:32 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 38-129; 11:32 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Petersen, Henry E.
• 38-130; Unknown between 12:02 p.m. & 12:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 38-131; 12:04 p.m. - 12:07 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Brennan, Peter J.

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-E0686 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0686-, President Nixon walks through the White House Rose Garden with flowering trees and plants. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0686-08, President Nixon walking through the White House Rose Garden past flowering trees and flowers. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0686-14A, President Nixon walking through the White House Rose garden with red, yellow, and white tulips and white flowering trees in bloom. View looking at the back entrance to the Oval office porch. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0686-26, President Nixon walking through the White House Rose with red, yellow and white tulips and white flowering trees in full bloom. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.

Roll WHPO-E0687 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0687-, President Nixon walking in the White House Rose garden area. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0687-05, President Nixon walking in the White House Rose garden. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.

Roll WHPO-E0688 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0688-, President Nixon discussing his energy message and the economy with members of the Cabinet. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Cabinet members.

Roll WHPO-E0689 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0689-, President Nixon departing for Key Biscayne via Andrews Air Force Base on helicopter "Spirit of '76.". 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox, unidentified staff, unidentified helicopter crew.

Roll WHPO-E0690 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0690-02A-03A, Hoopes, Hehrli, Hart families. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Hoopes, Hehrli, Hart family members.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0690-04A-20A, President Nixon departing White House for Key Biscayne via helicopter "Spirit of '76.". 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. President Nixon, unidentified staff.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0690-05, President Nixon walking with aides toward the presidential helicopter as he departs the White House for Key Biscayne. Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, and David Eisenhower walking as a group apart from the President to the helicopter. 4/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, unidentified aides.

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.

K - Informal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-K-053
  Arrival-Homestead AFB, FL. (4/20/1973)
  
  Runtime: 4:00
  
  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-6249
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:30
  
  1. Reasoner/Matney/Zimmerman/Tomlinson/Sherwood: Watergate and Mitchell. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Reasoner/Jackson/Snell/Drury/Dick Shoemaker: Cost of living and meat boycott. Time Code Start: 05:03. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, protests, boycotts, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Reasoner/Koppel: Indochina. Time Code Start: 09:15. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Reasoner/Kincaid: First ninty days of President Nixon's second term. Time Code Start: 11:10. Keywords: Presidents, elections. Network: ABC.
  
  5. Reasoner: Comment on Watergate. Time Code Start: 16:17. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  6. Chancellor/McCormick/Stern: Mitchell and Watergate; President Nixon. Time Code Start: 18:04. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  7. Chancellor/Dancy: Food prices; meat boycott. Time Code Start: 24:38. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, protests, boycotts. Network: NBC.
  
  8. Chancellor/Levine: Labor and the economy. Time Code Start: 27:02. Keywords: labor, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: NBC.
  
  9. Chancellor/Neal/Brady: Ceasefire problems, unmanned planes, Cambodia. Time Code Start: 29:47. Keywords: Vietnam War, ceasefires. Network: NBC.
  
  10. Cronkite/Schorr/Stahl: Mitchell and Watergate. Time Code Start: 33:20. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  11. Cronkite/Jones: Cost of living. Time Code Start: 39:58. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: CBS.
  
  12. Cronkite/Schieffer: North Vietnam, unmanned planes. Time Code Start: 42:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, aircraft. Network: CBS.
  
  13. Cronkite/Hotelett/McGlauphin: United Nations (U.N.) and the Middle East. Time Code Start: 44:14. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, Middle East, Mideast, war. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of April 20, 1973

• AP Images photos from April 20, 1973
• Getty Images photos from April 20, 1973

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• April 1973 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• April 20, 1973