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August 10, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, August 10, 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: Thursday, August 9, 1973

Next Date: Saturday, August 11, 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 Camp David, Maryland

  • 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

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. X, Vietnam, January 1973-July 1975

    Congressional Restrictions, General Warfare, June 19, 1973-February 25, 1975

    • 102. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, August 10, 1973, 3:09-4:21 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–116, WSAG Meeting Minutes, Originals, 1973. Top Secret; Codeword. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    "That Chilean Guy May Have Some Problems": The Downfall of Salvador Allende, January-September 1973

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 8-October 5, 1973

    • 191. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 10, 1973, 10:35-11:42 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 251, Agency Files, National Energy Office, Vol. III. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office. On August 13, Odeen forwarded a copy to Scowcroft. (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

    Haiti

    • 395. Letter From the Political Officer of the Embassy in Haiti (De Santillana) to the Chief of Haitian Affairs, Office of Caribbean Affairs (Wauchope), Port-au-Prince, August 10, 1973

      Summary: De Santillana reported on speculation regarding a military coup in Haiti and concluded that an attempt by the Armed Forces to overthrow the government of President Duvalier was unlikely.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–1973, ARA/CAR, Lot 75D393, POL Political Affairs—General. Confidential; Official-Informal. In telegram 1375 from Port-au-Prince, August 10, the Embassy reported on the cabinet changes referred to in the postscript of this letter, noting that Duvalier’s August 9 reshuffle would help to deflate some of the pressure for change that had been mounting. (Ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])

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

    Colombia

    • 259. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, August 10, 1973

      Summary: Jorden informed Kissinger that the Embassy had told members of the Colombian Government that the expropriation of the International Mining Company would damage bilateral relations.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 779, Latin America, Colombia, Vol. 1, 1969–1970. Confidential. Sent for information. In an undated memorandum, Scowcroft informed Jorden that Kissinger wanted him to write a shorter memorandum for the President on IMC, which “emphasize[d] actions the U.S. Government is taking.” (Ibid.) On September 10, Jorden drafted the memorandum for Kissinger, which informed the President that Embassy officials had spoken to the Ministers of Finance, Mines, and President of the Central Bank. Scowcroft wrote on the covering memorandum, “HAK does not wish to forward [to the President]. BS.” (Ibid.)

  • 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 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-254
      Briefing of summer interns by John Love. (8/10/1973, 459 EOB)

      Runtime: 32:00:00

      Keywords: Briefings, private briefings

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RMM (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-255
      Press briefing by Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz. (8/10/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 40:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JDF (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-256
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (8/10/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 40:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JDF (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-6486
      Melvin Laird Spot from "Today" (7/31/73); Sec. Butz on "CBS Morning News" (8/9/73); Sec. Weinberger, George Bush "Today" (8/1/73). FTN: Dr. Dixie Lee Ray, Chairman of the NRC; "MTP": John Lindsay; "I&A": Senator Howard Baker.
      CBS, NBC, ABC
      Runtime: 01:05:07
    • WHCA-6487
      "60 Minutes".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-6496
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Smith/Geer: Wheat and beef future with Secretary of Agriculture Butz. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: food, crops, grains, animal products, meat, sales, costs, prices, supply, shortages, freezes, cabinet, advisors. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner/Peterson: Beef prices and the cost of living council. Time Code Start: 02:26. Keywords: food, animal products, meat, sales, costs, prices, supply, shortages, freezes, cabinet advisors. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner: Prime rate and the Fair Housing Act Bill. Time Code Start: 04:20. Keywords: credit rates, APR, borrowing, lending, mortgages, banks, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, prices, reports, housing, loans, bills, laws. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Landay: President Nixon's speech plans. Time Code Start: 05:06. Keywords: Presidents, speeches. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith: Vice President Agnew's record subpoenaed. Time Code Start: 07:02. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: ABC.

      6. Reasoner: Secretary of Defense Laird and the secret Cambodian raids [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 07:28. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, speeches, statements. Network: ABC.

      7. Smith: Commentary on former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and the blackmailer. Time Code Start: 09:47. Keywords: Federal Bureau of Investigations, leaders, blackmailing. Network: ABC.

      8. Utley/Craves/Jamison: The economy, prime lending rate and wheat prices with Secretary of Agriculture Butz. Time Code Start: 11:39. Keywords: food, crops, prices, costs, increases, shortages, products, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, loans, wages, costs, unemployment. Network: NBC.

      9. Utley: Secretary of Defense Laird and the secret Cambodia raids [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 16:49. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, speeches, statements. Network: NBC.

      10. Utley/Goralski: Government agencies collected political information. Time Code Start: 18:50. Keywords: agencies, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, spying, espionage, politics, activities. Network: NBC.

      11. Utley: Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 20:47. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: NBC.

      12. Mudd/Schorr: Companies gave illegal funds to President Nixon's campaign. Time Code Start: 21:09. Keywords: Presidents, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, crimes. Network: CBS.

      13. Mudd/Pierpoint: Government agencies spied on President Nixon's political rivals. Time Code Start: 22:30. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: CBS.

      14. Mudd/Williams: Secretary of Defense Laird and the secret Cambodian raids [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 24:33. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, speeches, statements. Network: CBS.

      15. Mudd/Dow: President Nixon signs farm bill; beef for reasonable prices. Time Code Start: 26:17. Keywords: Presidents, bills, laws, signings, farms, farming, financial aid, food, animal products, meat, sales, costs, prices, supply, shortages, freezes. Network: CBS.

      16. Mudd/Kalb: U.S. and Arab Oil and the Middle East Peace. Time Code Start: 28:30. Keywords: Arabian, Arabs, Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, aid, war, energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, truce, truces, peace. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)