April 3, 1972

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.

Each Public Papers of the Presidents volume contains the papers and speeches of the President of the United States that were issued by the White House Office of the Press Secretary during the time period specified by the volume. The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events. In instances when the release date differs from the date of the document itself, that fact is shown in the text note.

To ensure accuracy, remarks have been checked against audio recordings (when available) and signed documents have been checked against the original, unless otherwise noted. Editors have provided text notes and cross references for purposes of identification or clarity.

• Statement About Signing the Par Value Modification Act

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.

No Federal Register published on this date

Decided

• Carter v. Stanton

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 3, 1972
• Date search for April 3, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for April 3, 1972
• Date search for April 3, 1972

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 03 April 1972

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. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

The Easter Offensive, March 30-May 7, 1972

• 50. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, April 3, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 700–2. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. The transcript is part of a larger conversation, 8:54–9:09 a.m. Portions of the transcript are printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971–May 1972, Document 79.

• 52. Conversation Among President Nixon, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer), Washington, April 3, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 700–5. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portion of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held from 10:06 to 10:20 a.m. and Rush was also in attendance. (Ibid., White House Central Files)

• 53. Minutes of a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, April 3, 1972, 10:31-11:10 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–116, Washington Special Actions Group, WSAG Minutes (Originals) 1–3–72 to 7–24–72. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. All brackets are in the original. The WSAG met 18 times in April.

Vol. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

The Easter Offensive, March 30-May 7, 1972

• 54. Memorandum for the Record by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer), Washington, April 3, 1972

  Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Chairman, Moorer Diary, July 1970–July 1974. Top Secret; Sensitive. The memorandum is attached to Admiral Moorer’s April 3 Diary entry.

Vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

U.S.-Soviet Relations and the Spring Offensive in Vietnam, March 30-April 18, 1972

• 79. Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, April 3, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation No. 700–2. No classification marking. According to his Daily Diary, Nixon met with Kissinger in the Oval Office from 8:54 to 9:09 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files) The editors transcribed the portion of the conversation printed here specifically for this volume.

Vol. XIX, Part 2, Japan, 1969-1972

November 1971-December 1972: Toward a New Equilibrium

• 116. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 3, 1972, noon

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VII, Jan–Apr 1972. Secret; Sensitive. Holdridge sent this memorandum to Kissinger under an April 4 covering memorandum. (Ibid.) Kissinger approved the memorandum of conversation with no further distribution. In an April 10 letter to Sato, Nixon introduced Ingersoll as follows: “I wanted my personal representative in Japan to be someone who reflected the paramount importance which I place on continued friendly relations between our countries. It was therefore a great pleasure to me when Mr. Ingersoll, whom I have known for over 25 years, agreed to lay aside his heavy responsibilities as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Borg-Warner Corporation to take up this most important diplomatic post.” Nixon also wrote: “Please feel free, Mr. Prime Minister, to rely on Ambassador Ingersoll to bring to my personal attention any particular problem you may have at any time.” (Ibid., Box 757, Presidential Correspondence File 1969–1974, Japan (Sato Corr) 1969–8 Jul 1972) Ingersoll was nominated Ambassador to Japan on February 29 and presented his credentials on April 12.

Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

Iraq 1972

• 304. Memorandum From Andrew Killgore of the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Department of State to the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco), Washington, April 3, 1972

  Killgore passed along a memorandum of conversation from the meeting between Iraqi Desk Officer Thomas J. Scotes and Zyd Uthman, Barzani emissary, who appealed for US financial and military assistance.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 13–3 Iraq. Secret.

Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

• 416. Telegram 722 From the Consulate General in Karachi to the Department of State, Karachi, April 3, 1972, 1100Z

  Chargé Sober reported that he had informed Pakistani President Bhutto about U.S. plans to recognize Bangladesh. Bhutto expressed appreciation that the United States had waited a “reasonable time” before according recognition, and he asked that after recognition the United States provide the majority of its economic assistance to Bangladesh bilaterally.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 16 BANGLADESH. Confidential; Priority; Nodis. Sent with the suggestion that it be passed to Islamabad and other posts as desired.

• 417. Telegram 56444 From the Department of State to the Consulate General in Dacca, Washington, April 3, 1972, 1736Z

  The Consulate General was instructed to inform the Government of Bangladesh of U.S. plans for recognition on April 4. The Consulate General was also instructed to notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Consul General Spivack would be returning on April 7 and would like to meet with Bangladesh Prime Minister Rahman on April 8 to deliver President Nixon’s letter concerning recognition.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 16 BANGLADESH. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Constable, cleared by Laingen, and approved by Davies. Repeated to Islamabad and New Delhi.

Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

• 119. Memorandum From Winston Lord of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), New York, April 3, 1972, New York, April 3, 1972

  Lord met informally with Shih Yen-hua of the Chinese Mission to the UN and communicated President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s belief that there was “no policy he believed in more than improving relations with the People’s Republic of China.” The undated message references several points raised by the United States in the April 3 message.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the new quarters for the PRC Mission, located near Lincoln Center. The precise time of the meeting is not indicated. The United States message that Lord delivered is printed as Document 219, Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, volume XVII.

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.

Old Executive Office Building

• 328-24; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:55 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 328-25; 12:55 p.m. - 1:28 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 328-26; Unknown between 1:28 p.m. & 2:43 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 328-27; Unknown between 1:28 p.m. & 2:43 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 328-28; Unknown between 1:28 p.m. & 2:43 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 328-29; Unknown between 1:28 p.m. & 2:43 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)
• 328-30; 2:43 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary; Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 328-31; Unknown between 3:05 p.m. & 3:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)
• 328-32; Unknown between 3:05 p.m. & 3:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 328-33; Unknown between 3:05 p.m. & 3:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 328-34; Unknown between 3:05 p.m. & 3:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 328-35; 3:19 p.m. - 3:33 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.; Sanchez, Manolo
• 328-36; 3:55 p.m. - 4:26 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.

Oval Office

• 700-1; Unknown between 8:40 a.m. & 8:54 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 700-2; Unknown between 8:40 a.m. & 9:09 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]; Kissinger, Henry A.
• 700-3; 9:18 a.m. - 9:59 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); White House operator; Cox, Tricia Nixon; Kissinger, Henry A.
• 700-4; Unknown between 9:59 a.m. & 10:06 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 700-5; 10:06 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.); Rush, [David] Kenneth; Kissinger, Henry A.
• 700-6; Unknown between 10:20 a.m. & 10:23 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
• 700-7; 10:23 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 700-8; Unknown between 11:39 a.m. & 4:27 p.m.; United States Secret Service agents; [Unknown person(s)]
• 700-9; 4:27 p.m. - 4:31 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
• 700-10; 4:32 p.m. - 5:36 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Sanchez, Manolo; Bull, Stephen B.
• 700-12; 5:36 p.m. - 5:48 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 700-13; Unknown between 5:49 p.m. & 11:59 p.m.; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.

White House Telephone

• 22-63; 9:33 a.m. - 9:34 a.m.; White House operator; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cox, Tricia Nixon
• 22-64; Unknown between 11:39 a.m. & 11:46 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 22-65; 11:46 a.m. - 11:49 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Eisenhower, Julie Nixon
• 22-66; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 3:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 22-67; 3:19 p.m. - 3:33 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.
• 22-68; Unknown between 6:35 p.m. & 7:12 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 22-69; 7:12 p.m. - 7:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
• 22-70; Unknown between 7:19 p.m. & 7:24 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 22-71; 7:24 p.m. - 7:26 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.

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-8806 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-8806-, Children enjoying the White House's Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, children, adults.
• Frame(s): WHPO-8806-, Tricia Nixon Cox with the Easter Bunny character during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, children, adults.
• Frame(s): WHPO-8806-18A, Tricia Nixon Cox with the Easter Bunny character during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, children, adults.

Roll WHPO-8807 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-8807-, The annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Tricia Nixon Cox standing with the Easter Bunny. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, children, adults.
• Frame(s): WHPO-8807-25, The annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Tricia Nixon Cox standing with the Easter Bunny and various other characters. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, unidentified costumed people, possibly film or television characters, children, adults.

Roll WHPO-8808 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-8808-, The annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox standing with the Easter Bunny. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, children, adults, Frog, Clowns.
• Frame(s): WHPO-8808-10, The annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox standing with clowns. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Clowns.
• Frame(s): WHPO-8808-14, The annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox standing with the Easter Bunny and clowns. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Tricia Nixon Cox, Easter Bunny, Clowns.

Roll WHPO-8809 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-8809-, New Zoo Revue actors, some in their costumes, standing by and on the stairs. 4/3/1972, Washington, D.C. Diplomatic Stairway, White House. New Zoo Revue actors.

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.

G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

• WHCA-SR-G-162
  Press briefing by Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe, with Gerald Warren. (4/3/1972, Press Center)
  
  Runtime: 37:00:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RHD (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-5251
  "60 Minutes" AND "Newsmakers".
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:30:29
• WHCA-5252
  "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition".
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 00:30:30
• WHCA-5262
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:30:19
  
  37. Report on North Vietnamese advance in South Vietnam. State Department comment. Film report of impact of fighting on South Vietnam. Time Code Start: 75:39. Keywords: Vietnam War, reports. Network: ABC.
  
  38. Report on North Vietnamese claims of shooting down U.S. aircraft. Time Code Start: 78:41. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  39. Even of Wisconsin primary. Film of Democratic candidates campaigning. Time Code Start: 81:53. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting. Network: ABC.
  
  40. Reasoner: Commentary on North Vietnamese offensive and the test of the Vietnamization policy. Time Code Start: 88:05. Keywords: North Vietnamese Army, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
• WHCA-5263
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:20:00
  
  1. Report on communist offensive and reported downing of U.S. B-52 bomber. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.
  
  2. Report on Harrisburg-Berrigan trial and the deadlocked jury (Harrisburg 7). Time Code Start: 03:54. Keywords: Protests, militants, bombings, violence, sabotage, shootings, kidnappings, courts, trials, investigations, prosecutions. Network: NBC.
  
  3. Wisconsin primary. Film reports of Democratic candidates campaigning. Time Code Start: 06:02. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting. Network: NBC.
  
  4. International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) trial and candidate McGovern's charges that International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) paid no taxes. Film interview of Kleindeinst re: his comfirmation as Attorney General. Time Code Start: 09:17. Keywords: law, confirmations, International Telephone & Telegraph, communications, world, corporations, conglomerates, campaign funding, investigations, hearings. Network: NBC.
  
  5. Report on International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) case and the Republican Convention in San Diego, California. Film report of activists arriving. Time Code Start: 11:13. Keywords: International Telephone & Telegraph, communications, world, corporations, conglomerates, campaign funding, investigations, hearings, political parties, Republicans, GOP, conventions, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: NBC.
  
  6. Report on President Nixon's administration's war on drugs. Film of a methadone clinic. Remarks by Presidential advisor Dr. Jerome Jaffe. Time Code Start: 14:15. Keywords: Presidents, laws, orders, pharmaceuticals, medicines, drugs, drug abuse, narcotics, heroin, marijuana, alcohol, alcoholism, addicts, addiction, prevention, programs, sales. Network: NBC.
  
  7. North Vietnamese offensive. Film reports on battles and refugees. Time Code Start: 16:53. Keywords: Vietnam War, homeless, immigrants. Network: CBS.
  
  8. Report on President Nixon's comments on the action. Time Code Start: 21:32. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: CBS.
  
  9. Wisconsin primary campaign. Impact of cross-over voters. Film of candidates. Time Code Start: 24:53. Keywords: Vote, voters, voting, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, costs, finances, funding, voting. Network: CBS.
  
  10. International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) case. McGovern charges that they paid no taxes. Time Code Start: 31:32. Keywords: International Telephone & Telegraph, communications, world, corporations, conglomerates, campaign funding, investigations, hearings. Network: CBS.
  
  11. Sevareid: Commentary on scandals and campaign contributions. Time Code Start: 32:33. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, costs, finances, funding. Network: CBS.

• TIME magazine of April 3, 1972

• New York Times of April 3, 1972

• AP Images photos from April 3, 1972
• Getty Images photos from April 3, 1972

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 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• April 3, 1972