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April 4, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, April 4, 1973, 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: Tuesday, April 3, 1973

Next Date: Thursday, April 5, 1973

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 San Clemente, California

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

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 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)
      Wednesday, April 4.

      The President had no schedule today. He had me in first thing this morning when he came over at 9:00 for a long discussion on scheduling. He feels that Ehrlichman doesn't have the right idea regarding the President's approach that you have to hit the right notes. And for example, in the first three months, we've gone all-out on our system of inside things which are maybe important, but are useless except for spending maybe a half hour a day on them. That is, the sort of therapy-type sessions, which he feels we have to do in a ruthless way, as we're trying to do with foreign ministers, and so on. He has to do enough internal things to make the job work well, for example, the Cabinet we have to do every other week on a substantive basis, but the White House staff is not worthwhile unless there's a substantive need, such as a full day review of economic policy or something. NSC should meet when it's needed. At the Cabinet we should bring some sub-Cabinet people in, Ehrlichman's the key on this. He should set up some dog and pony shows. On the White House staff, they should only meet when needed, except that Ash ought to be in once a week.

      Regarding foreign visitors, there should be no exceptions to the rule of no one but head of state or government, with the exception of the Soviets and the Chinese. On Congressional, we should meet with the leaders of one group or another. On the diddly stuff, rule out White House people, concentrate on Congressional. On outside groups, Mayors and etcetera, we should do some, for example, labor. Get others in just for pictures, but they must be totally analyzed. Ziegler and Steve should work out the photo opportunities carefully. On phone calls, he agreed to have a folder on the mac table with five or six calls in it, and try to make them from time to time, although he's not sure that's a good idea. On State Visits, he wants to start doing TV after dinner, look for ways to televise things. On going to the country, he doesn't really believe it's useful to show the President working on domestic problems as John feels. What is useful is seeing the President as President, ceremonial foreign policy, warm stuff like the Ford dinner. So in the country, we should go for ceremonial dedications, and so on. Get the President on television, not wearing horns. He raised the question of support mail to the Senators that voted with us on the veto, and letters to the anti-Republicans, blasting them for not standing with the President.

      Wants Al Cole, Holt, Louis and so on to get going on getting Weicker. Thinks Goldwater should say that Weicker should disqualify himself like a judge who he has a prejudice in advance. Got into a discussion of press conferences and what he had to do on that. Feels that he can't go on a press conference until we go forward on some statement on Watergate or until the President knows what we're going to say. Especially regarding staff appearances. He thinks that 7:00 or 7:30 press conference time on live television is best, but wants to check the question of local option time. And no prime time press conferences unless there's a major event. For prime time, o an anchor and tech thing twice a year. Wants to be sure Kissinger knows there's to be absolutely no more departure statements or return lunches or dinners, and then got into a discussion about not telling Ziegler that he was going to go for a drive today.

      He then had Ehrlichman in for some general discussion on Watergate. By then it was about 10:40 and we talked for a little while going over my concerns and so on. And then I went out so he could have a further discussion with John. I went back in to give him Dean's report.

      John had called me on the phone to say that his lawyers saw the US Attorneys, Silbert and Glazer, and just sat and listened to take their temperature as representatives of Dean, regarding what would happen to him with the grand jury. He finds that first, he will be called, probably next week, the same as Mitchell. Same basis no cameras, and not announced until afterwards. Second, Dean is not a target for the grand jury, also Haldeman is not. They don't believe they'll have to call Haldeman, except possibly to corroborate other statements. Third, Liddy has talked to the US Attorney. His lawyer doesn't know it. They believe him––the US Attorneys do. And in his discussions he's freed the White House from their minds, although John doesn't know what he said.

      Dean's lawyers have told him he must not talk to Jeb, and this morning Jeb called him. Dean's lawyers talked to Jeb's lawyer to try and untangle this. Fourth, they discussed the business on privilege and so on. Dean, according to the US Attorneys this morning, can't take the Fifth Amendment. His lawyers say he may have to on technicals. US Attorneys say they won't pursue that. Dean's lawyers think that in effect it'll be a practical immunity granted regarding after-the-fact technical violations.

      He says there's a funny position regarding the grand jury minutes to the Ervin Committee that Sirica has ordered. The Justice attorneys have filed an amicus brief with Sirica regarding some rule that the grand jury minutes are secret. This would violate that, and Ervin, of course, has withdrawn the request for the minutes, so the government is in a good position regarding not releasing the grand jury minutes, John feels. Dean's view regarding Ervin appearances is that some arrangement has to be made on ground rules so that we talk only about first-hand knowledge, no hearsay. Regarding Dean, he thinks we should hard-line it and have no appearance at all.

      He says Mitchell called Dick Moore, who was in Dean's office with Clawson, and they put Dean on the phone, too. Mitchell called to report that he had talked to F. Lee Bailey, and Alch had told him that when McCord was going to go before Judge Ritchie on the civil case deposition, he had a letter that he was going to file saying that Parkinson had handled the payoffs to the defendants via Mrs. Hunt. He told his lawyers that this was a lie, but that he had would-- wanted to get Parkinson somehow, and this was the best way to do it. He and Fensterwald cooked this up. Mitchell thinks we ought to find a way to get this out. Dean still thinks Jeb is the most serious problem, but his lawyers are working with Bierbower, Jeb's lawyer.

      I reported all this to the President and John and then went out. The President and John finished up about 12:15 and called me in again. Discussed Magruder and the problem of what he would do if he was given immunity. Which I said I thought it would be very serious, and the question was raised of whether Strachan would tell Magruder to hire Liddy, something that we-- to rehire
      Liddy something we need to return to. In the discussion with the President and John while I was in there, we got into the point that the Weicker attack is a thematic approach that we've got to contend with. We should hit the press criticizing us, because we didn't campaign as a defense thing there. Reinforce the Presidency was our campaign concept, and it's ironic that we would be brought through the mud because of ill-advised people, since we had taken such a high-level approach, and I should condemn any excesses that took place. The most vicious campaign of libel and slander against the President, as was pointed out by William White or someone. The President has to use the Haldeman appearance to defend the campaign-- Correction: the President says, "We must use Haldeman's appearance to defend the campaign, as mentioned above." He then told John that he is to understand the overriding need for Haldeman on the staff. The President said, "Haldeman is more important to me than Adams was to Eisenhower. For example, the Kissinger situation, which only he can handle. I can handle the rest, probably, but I can't do that. So protecting Haldeman, in terms of whether his testimony is raising a greater doubt about him, is a major consideration. He is the President's closest confidante, his Chief of Staff, and we can't let him be tarred as a dirty SOB, and this is a case in point."

      He also said that Ehrlichman needed to talk very soon with Colson. O'Brien should talk with Magruder, and Moore should talk with Mitchell. Maintain our contacts there, and be sure we don't get loused up on the basis of just not keeping them posted or keeping in touch with them.

      Ehrlichman, Ziegler, Higby, and I then spent the rest of the afternoon going over a Q&A session to work out what might develop in my interview. It didn't work out very satisfactorily, and we're back to a general discussion of how we should approach this at this point. My feeling is that we have more problems than solutions and that we've got to really consider the desirability of my going. I'm not sure it would be productive.

      End of April 4.
    • 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

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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. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

    Summit Preparations; Jackson-Vanik Amendment; Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons, December 1972-April 1973

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

    Horn of Africa

    • 83. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 4, 1973

      Assistant Secretary Newsom and Ethiopian Ambassador Kifle Wodajo discussed the status of the Emperor’s request for a meeting with President Nixon and limitations on U.S. military assistance for Ethiopia.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 13 ETH. Confidential. Drafted by Melone; cleared by Newsom.

  • 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-E0542 Photographer: ROYER | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0542-, Vice President Agnew meeting with Vietnamese head of state Lee. 4/4/1973, unknown unknown. Spiro Agnew, Lee.

    Roll WHPO-E0555 Photographer: ROYER | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0555-, Julie Eisenhower attending Rehabilitation International USA Seminar Reception. 4/4/1973, Washington, D.C. Department of State building. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs John Richardson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Committee of Rehabilitation International Mrs. Helen Walsh, Chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation and Member of the Board of Directors of Rehabilitation Internationa Rm. Peter McColough, guests.

    Roll WHPO-E0556 Photographer: ROYER | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0556-, Julie Eisenhower attending Rehabilitation International USA Seminar Reception. 4/4/1973, Washington, D.C. Department of State building. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs John Richardson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Committee of Rehabilitation International Mrs. Helen Walsh, Chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation and Member of the Board of Directors of Rehabilitation Internationa Rm. Peter McColough, guests.

  • 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.

    D - First Family

    • WHCA-SR-D-043
      Remarks by Julie Nixon Eisenhower to the Seminar Rehabilitation International USA reception at the State Department. (4/4/1973, Diplomatic Reception Area, The State Department)

      Runtime: 1:49

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by State Dept.; Recorded by LSB (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-D-044
      Remarks by Julie Nixon Eisenhower to the Handicapped Federal Employee of the Year in the Department of Commerce Auditorium. (4/4/1973, Department of Commerce Auditorium)

      Runtime: 4:39

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by Commerce Dept.; Recorded by JMM (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

    • WHCA-SR-S-051
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (4/4/1973, Laguna Beach, P.C., California)

      Runtime: 18:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by MAN (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-6219
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:03:24

      15. Smith/Zimmerman: food prices with Patman. Time Code Start: 43:50. Keywords: food, meat, agriculture, animal products, dairy products, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: ABC.

      16. Smith/Kincaid/Kanestner/Brannigan: Meat boycott, prices. Time Code Start: 46:11. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, protests, boycotts. Network: ABC.

      17. Smith/Donaldson: Watergate with Kleindienst. Time Code Start: 49:21. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      18. Smith/Koppel: Cambodia; South Vietnam's President Thieu wrap-up. Time Code Start: 52:04. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, South Vietnam, Presidents, travel, trips. Network: ABC.

      19. Smith/Bell: Vietnam war aftermath, film from Hanoi. Time Code Start: 54:40. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      20. Smith: Commentary on Jane Fonda. Time Code Start: 57:26. Keywords: Actor, actors, celebrities, movies, actresses, activists, Vietnam War, activism, reports. Network: ABC.

      21. Chancellor/Dancy/Nessen: Food price forecast, meat boycott. Time Code Start: 59:20. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, protests, boycotts. Network: NBC.
    • WHCA-6221
      Weekly News Summary, Tape IV.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:00:10

      1. Chancellor/Brady/Duke: Serious fighting in Cambodia with Admiral Moorer, Secretary of Defense Richardson, Senator Ted Kennedy. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, cabinet, advisors, military leaders, Senators, interviews. Network: NBC.

      2. Chancellor: South Vietnam's President Thieu arrival at Andrews Air Force Base. Time Code Start: 05:18. Keywords: South Vietnam, Presidents, travel, trips, Armed Forces, military, air bases, airfields, airports. Network: NBC.

      3. Chancellor: Watergate. Time Code Start: 06:58. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      4. Chancellor/Jones/Brinkley: Fifth anniversary of Martin Luther King's death. Time Code Start: 07:43. Keywords: activists, civil rights, religion, leaders, ministers, African Americans, assassinations, shootings, death. Network: NBC.

      5. Cronkite/Schieffer: Phnom Penh, Cambodia in trouble with Admiral Moorer and Secretary of Defense Richardson; Senator Ted Kennedy. Time Code Start: 11:46. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, cities, military officials, Senators, cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

      6. Cronkite/Stahl: Watergate. Time Code Start: 14:30. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      7. Cronkite/Walker: Anniversary of Martin Luther King's death. Time Code Start: 16:20. Keywords: activists, civil rights, religion, leaders, ministers, African Americans, assassinations, shootings, death. Network: CBS.

      8. Cronkite/Sevareid: Price control speculation, boycott. Time Code Start: 20:30. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, boycotts. Network: CBS.

      9. Cronkite/Morton: More on POW torture, first report on Vietnam veteran. Time Code Start: 24:23. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, prisons, punishments, abuses, atrocity, atrocities, interviews. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)