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April 23, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, April 23, 1974, 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 22, 1974

Next Date: Wednesday, April 24, 1974

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.

  • 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.

  • 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. XXII, Panama, 1973-1976

    Panama, 1973-1976

    • 40. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 23, 1974, 6-6:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P860117–0646. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Bell. The meeting was held in the Secretary’s office. Brackets are in the original.

    Vol. XXXIII, SALT II, 1972-1980

    SALT II, 1972-1980

    • 64. Minutes of a Meeting of the Verification Panel, Washington, April 23, 1974, 10:19-11:45 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–108, Verification Panel Minutes, Originals, 3–15–72 to 6–4–74 [4 of 5]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.

    Vol. XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973-1976

    National Security Policy

    • 37. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 23, 1974, 7:45-10:00 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1028, Memcons—HAK & Presidential, March 1–May 8, 1974 [2 of 4]. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the Secretary of Defense’s Dining Room at the Pentagon.

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

    Terrorism

    • 214. Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Hoffacker) to the Deputy Undersecretary for Management (Brown), Washington, April 23, 1974

      Brown approved Hoffacker’s recommendation to continue special screening measures for Arab visa applicants, referred to as Operation Boulder.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Visa-Operation Boulder, 1972–74. Confidential. Drafted by Gatch. Attached but not published at Tab A is telegram 1168 from the Embassy in Kuwait to the Department of State, March 27, which requested exceptions to Operation Boulder restrictions. Attached but not published at Tab B is a March 8 memorandum from John R. Diggins of SCA to Barbara M. Watson, which proposed altering procedures required by Operation Boulder to expedite the processing of visa applications. Attached but not published at Tab C is a April 9 letter from FBI director Clarence M. Kelley to Kissinger, which advocated retaining Operation Boulder provisions without amendment. Attached but not published at Tab D is an unsent draft telegram ordering revisions modifying the implementation of Operation Boulder.

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

    Horn of Africa

    • 107. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, April 23, 1974

      Secretary of State Kissinger and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Easum led a discussion of the evolving situation in Ethiopia, potential Ethiopian-Somali conflict, and U.S. options in the region.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcript of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 3, Secretary’s Staff Meetings. Secret.

    Vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976

    Brazil

    • 100. Telegram 82931 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Brazil, Washington, April 23, 1974, 2316Z

      Summary: Kissinger and Silveira discussed countervailing duties and Brazil’s foreign policy.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 772, Country Files, Latin America, Brazil, Vol. 4, 1973–1974. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Watson and cleared by Bowdler and Schwab. Silveira was in Washington for the Foreign Ministers meetings April 17–18. In telegram 75824 to Brasília, April 13, the Department transmitted to the Embassy a letter from Kissinger to Silveira in which Kissinger said he supported setting up working groups or preparatory commissions on science and technology, resources transfer, and possibly on problems of foreign investment. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–2591) In telegram 2533 from Brasília, April 15, Crimmins reported on his conversation with Silveira, in which they discussed Brazil’s regional policy, including relations with Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Cuba. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 772, Country Files, Latin America, Brazil, Vol. 4, 1973–1974)

  • 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-E2656 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2656-, Pat Nixon hosting a reception for the DACOWITS. 4/23/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Blue Room.

    Roll WHPO-E2657 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2657-, Pat Nixon hosting a reception for the DACOWITS. 4/23/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Blue Room.

    Roll WHPO-E2658 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2658-, Pat Nixon with Smithsonian Education Volunteers. 4/23/1974, Washington D.C. White House, Blue Room.

    Roll WHPO-E2659 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2659-, President Nixon holds a meeting with the Quadriad: William E. Simon Secretary-designate of the Treasury, OMB Director Roy Ash, Board of Governors Federal Reserve Director Arthur Burns, Cost of Living Council Director John Dunlop, Economic Advisors Chairman Gary Seevers, and Simon. 4/23/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. William E. Simon Secretary-designate of the Treasury. Roy L. Ash, Director of the OMB. Arthur F. Burns, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System., Gary L. Seevers, Acting Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Assistant John T. Dunlop, Director of the Cost of Living Council.

  • 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-565
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (4/23/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 36:48:00

      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-6905
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS

      20. Reasoner: President Nixon's meeting of Council of Economic Advisors (CEA). Time Code Start: 34:41. Keywords: C.E.A., Presidents, meetings, cabinet, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation. Network: ABC.

      21. Smith/Jarriel/Donaldson: White House tapes case with Ron Ziegler and Representative Rodino. Time Code Start: 35:10. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      22. Smith/Zimmerman: Donald Johnson's resignation. Time Code Start: 38:43. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: ABC.

      23. Smith: Mitchell-Stans conspiracy trial. Time Code Start: 40:55. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, obstruction of justice, perjury, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      24. Reasoner: Commentary on inflation. Time Code Start: 41:20. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: ABC.

      25. Chancellor/Stern: White House tapes case. Time Code Start: 43:17. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      26. Chancellor/Brokaw/Scherrer: President Nixon asks subpoena delay, with Ron Ziegler and Representative Rodino. Time Code Start: 45:40. Keywords: Presidents, reactions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      27. Chancellor/Hager: Mitchell-Stans conspiracy trial. Time Code Start: 49:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, obstruction of justice, perjury, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      28. Chancellor/Nessen: Vice President Gerald Ford displeases the White House. Time Code Start: 50:50. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, reactions. Network: NBC.

      29. Chancellor/Brinkley: Commentary on racial discrimination quotas and their affects. Time Code Start: 52:41. Keywords: desegregation, racism, racial profiling, racial discrimination, civil rights, African Americans, schools, students, transportation, busing. Network: NBC.

      30. Chancellor/Christian: a look at the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Time Code Start: 55:55. Keywords: militants, activists, Patty Hearst kidnapping, robbery, murder, vanguard army, Donald DeFreeze, Nancy Ling Perry, Patricia Soltysik, Emily Harris, William Harris, Angela Atwood, Camilla Hall, crime, crimes, offences, infractions, criminals, criminality, l. Network: NBC.

      31. Cronkite/Rather/Morton: President Nixon asks subpoena delay, with Ron Ziegler and Representative Rodino. Time Code Start: 59:17. Keywords: Presidents, reactions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      32. Cronkite/Krauss: Oil profits with Senator Jackson. Time Code Start: 62:32. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, sales, costs, increases. Network: CBS.

      33. Cronkite/Kalb: Middle East situation and Secretary of State Kissinger's plan. Time Code Start: 65:22. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips, truces, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.

      34. Cronkite/Schakne: Mitchell-Stans conspiracy trial. Time Code Start: 67:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, obstruction of justice, perjury, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      35. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on President Nixon and the economy. Time Code Start: 68:27. Keywords: Presidents, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)