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April 26, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, April 26, 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: Thursday, April 25, 1974

Next Date: Saturday, April 27, 1974

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.

  • 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. XXXVIII, Part 2, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy; Public Diplomacy, 1973-1976

    Managing the Department of State

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

    Antarctica, 1973-1976

    • 55. Memorandum NSC–U/DM–39A from the from the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Rush) to President Nixon, Washington, April 26, 1974

      The memorandum considered U.S. policy options concerning extraction of Antarctic mineral resources and recommended consultations with other parties to the Antarctic Treaty.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, OES/OA Files: Lot 90 D 234, Box 1, Antarctic Mineral Resources 1974, 1975. Confidential. Drafted by Yoder. Forwarded on April 29 by Grove to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the Federal Energy Office, and the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Commerce, and Transportation. Sections 4 and 5, covering Federal Energy Office comments and a summary of the Antarctic Mineral Resources Study, have not been published.

    Vol. E-8, Documents on South Asia, 1973-1976

    Indian Ocean Region

    • 71. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 26, 1974, 1:25-2:45 p.m.

      Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Deputy to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Brent Scowcroft discussed the arrangements for the Diego Garcia expansion and its announcement with Sir John Hunt and Ambassador Sir Peter Ramsbotham.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 145, Geopolitical File, Great Britain, March–April 1974. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place at the Eighth Floor Dining Room in the Department of State. The British General Election in February resulted in the fall of the Heath Government.

    • 72. Telegram 5616 From the Embassy in India to the Department of State, New Delhi, April 26, 1974, 2057Z

      Ambassador Daniel P. Moynihan analyzed the regional political consequences of the Diego Garcia expansion and presented several political proposals.

      Source: National Archives, RG 84, New Delhi Embassy Files: Lot 78 F 45, POL 33–4 Indian Ocean, January–June 1974. Secret. It was drafted on April 25 by Richard McCormack and Kreisberg (POL); cleared by David Schneider (DCM) and DAO; and approved by Moynihan. It was repeated to Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Canberra, Colombo, Dacca, Dar es Salaam, Islamabad, Jakarta, Jidda, Kabul, Katmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lisbon, London, Mogadishu, Moscow, Nairobi, Paris, Port Louis, Pretoria, Rangoon, San’a, Singapore, Tananarive, Tehran, Tokyo, Wellington, and Peking; U.S. Missions in Brussels, Geneva, USUN; and American Consulates in Calcutta, Bombay, Hong Kong, Madras, and CINCPAC.

    Vol. E-14, Part 2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973-1976

    • 44. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Rush), Washington, April 26, 1974

      Summary: Kissinger notified Rush that President Nixon had directed the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee, supplemented by representatives of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Department of Commerce, to study possible international restraints on environmental warfare.

      Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—Meetings, Box 13, Senior Review Group Meeting, 8/28/74—Environmental Warfare (2). Secret; Limdis. Copies were sent to Schlesinger, Dent, Iklé, Colby, and Moorer. A copy of NSDM 165 and a copy of Senate Resolution 71 are ibid. The May 10 paper was not found. The executive summary of the Department of Defense study is Document 42.

    Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

    United Kingdom, 1973-1976

    • 231. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 26, 1974, 1:25-2:45 p.m.

      Summary: Kissinger, Hunt, and other U.S. and UK officials discussed the U.S.–UK nuclear release agreement, the Labour government’s defense review, and the UK Polaris program.

      Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 24, United Kingdom (16). Secret; Nodis. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text remains classified, or omitted by the editors. The meeting took place during a luncheon in the Eighth Floor Dining Room at the Department.

  • 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-E2669 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2669-, Pat Nixon on stage speaking and greeting women leaders at a YWCA reception. 4/26/1974, unknown unknown.

    Roll WHPO-E2670 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2670-, President Nixon poses with unidentified individuals. 4/26/1974, Jackson, Mississippi unknown.

    Roll WHPO-E2675 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2675-, Stan Scott group poses together. 4/26/1974, unknown unknown.

  • 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-568
      Press briefing by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger. (4/26/1974, State Department)

      Runtime: 48:57:00

      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.
    • WHCA-SR-S-569
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (4/26/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 25:30:00

      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-6898
      "Four Portraits in Black", Tape I. A documentary on African Americans moving from poverty into the middle class Mann, Butler, Latta, Sarbanes, Cohen.
      CBS
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-6899
      "Four Portraits in Black", Tape II. A documentary on African Americans moving from poverty into the middle class Danielson, Lott, Seiberling, Froelich, Drinan.
      CBS
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-6906
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS

      25. Smith/Geer/Jarriel: Impeachment response with Bush and Burch. Time Code Start: 56:32. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: ABC.

      26. Reasoner: Secretary of State Kissinger's press conference. Time Code Start: 60:15. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: ABC.

      27. Smith: Dwight Chapin retrial spot. Time Code Start: 60:47. Keywords: Dirty Tricks, political sabotage, trials, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: ABC.

      28. Reasoner/Zimmerman: Vice President Gerald Ford on inflation. Time Code Start: 61:05. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: ABC.

      29. Smith/Downs: Sawhill of Federal Energy Office (FEO) on energy conservation. Time Code Start: 62:43. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy crisis, oil crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, allocations, conserving power. Network: ABC.

      30. Chancellor/Brokaw/Scherer: Subpoenaed tapes. Time Code Start: 64:40. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      31. Chancellor/Kiker: Republican National Committee. Time Code Start: 67:22. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP. Network: NBC.

      32. Chancellor/Goralski: Sawhill of the Federal Energy Office (FEO) on oil profits and conservation with Sawhill. Time Code Start: 69:30. Keywords: energy crisis, oil crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, allocations, sales, costs, increases. Network: NBC.

      33. Chancellor/Valeriani: Secretary of State Kissinger's statements of foreign policy with Kissinger. Time Code Start: 71:20. Keywords: cabinet, advisors. Network: NBC.

      34. Cronkite/Rather: Subpoenaed tapes with Burch. Time Code Start: 74:13. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      35. Cronkite/Schorr: Presidential restrictions. Time Code Start: 76:30. Keywords: Presidents, laws, power. Network: CBS.

      36. Cronkite/Kalb: Secretary of State Kissinger on foreign policy. Time Code Start: 78:04. Keywords: cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)