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April 8, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, April 8, 1972, 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: Friday, April 7, 1972

Next Date: Sunday, April 9, 1972

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 Key Biscayne, Florida

  • 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.

Archival Holdings

  • 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.

  • 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

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-8845 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-8845-06A-13A, President Nixon walking with Customs officers and officials and addressing the press. 4/8/1972, Key Biscayne, Florida residence grounds, presidential compound. President Nixon, Frank Torres, Myles Ambrose, Philip Cascavilla, press.

    Roll WHPO-8846 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-8846-, President Nixon seated informally and standing with Customs officers and officials. 4/8/1972, Key Biscayne, Florida study, presidential residence. President Nixon, Myles Ambrose, William Norsworthy, Philip Cascavilla, Frank Torres.

  • 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.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-720416
      Remarks by President Nixon to Customs officials at Key Biscayne. (4/8/1972)

      Runtime: 3:55

      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-5272
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      29. Report on the North Vietnamese offensive. Time Code Start: 53:57. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      30. Film report on the communist push to sever Highway 13, take An Loc in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 54:41. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      31. Film report on attacks on Hung Tra in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 56:39. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      32. Administration assures public no plans for U.S. ground troops, air and naval war could escalate. Time Code Start: 58:26. Keywords: Vietnam War, Armed Forces, military, troops, decreases, withdrawals. Network: ABC.

      33. Film report on the dispatch of the aircraft carrier USS Midway to Southeast Asia. Time Code Start: 58:52. Keywords: Vietnam War, Naval, Navy, ships, Asian, Indochina, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, East Timor, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore. Network: ABC.

      34. Reports confirm former President Johnson (LBJ)'s "chest pains" a heart attack. Time Code Start: 60:01. Keywords: Presidents, health, hospitals, heart attacks. Network: NBC.

      35. Senate Judiciary Committee report link settlement of anti-trust case with Republican political contributions. Film interview with Congressman Bob Wilson. Time Code Start: 62:23. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP, campaigns, funding, judges, justices, courts, investigations, Senate committee hearings. Network: NBC.

      36. Fighting in Mekong Delta and An Loc area intensifies, eases in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and central highlands. Time Code Start: 65:46. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      37. Film report on communist assaults on Loc Ninh and An Loc, Vietnam. Time Code Start: 66:39. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      38. Ziegler says U.S. to provide air and naval support to South Vietnam as needed. Time Code Start: 69:26. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      39. Heavy fighting around Quang Tri, Danang in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 70:01. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

      40. Film report on the relief of An Loc, battle for Highway 13 in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 70:35. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

      41. Report on the Democratic Presidential Race, with film of McGovern delegate-candidates in Pennsylvania. Time Code Start: 73:58. Keywords: political parties, Democrats, Democratic Party, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, conventions, delegations, delegates. Network: CBS.

      42. McGovern predicts he will lead delegate count after Pennsylvania Primary. Time Code Start: 77:25. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, conventions, delegates. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)