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August 15, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, August 15, 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, August 14, 1973

Next Date: Thursday, August 16, 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.

    President's Personal File

    The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. 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. XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973-1976

    Negotiating the New Rules, May 1973-June 1975

    Vol. XXXIII, SALT II, 1972-1980

    SALT II, 1972-1980

    • 34. Minutes of a Meeting of the Verification Panel, Washington, August 15, 1973, 3:04-4:31 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–108, Verification Panel Minutes, Originals, 3/15/72–6/4/74 [3 of 5]. Top Secret; Codeword. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 8-October 5, 1973

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

    India-Pakistan 1

    • 140. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 15, 1973, 12:12-12:30 p.m.

      Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger met with Ambassador Sultan Khan to discuss the damage caused by recent severe floods in Pakistan. Kissinger also disclosed that President Richard Nixon had chosen to nominate Henry A. Byroade as his choice for Ambassador to Pakistan.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK MemCons, MemCons April–November 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office in the White House.

    • 141. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 15, 1973, 1:15-2:30 p.m.

      Indian Ambassador Kaul called on the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger to discuss relations with Pakistan and regional South Asian economic and security issues.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1030, Presidential/HAK Memoranda of Conversations, HAK/Ambassador Jha and Ambassador Kaul of India. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place in the Map Room of the White House. The meeting continued in Kissinger’s office, 2:50–3:05 p.m., at which time Finance Minister M. G. Kaul joined the discussion (Ibid). The second conversation is not printed.

    Vol. E-12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973-1976

    Korean Peninsula

  • 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-E1358 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1358-, President Nixon seated at his oval office desk, giving his Watergate reply address on television from the Oval Office. 8/15/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1358-25, President Nixon seated at his oval office desk, giving his Watergate reply address on television from the Oval Office. 8/15/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-E1359 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1359-, President Nixon seated at his oval office desk, giving his Watergate reply address on television from the Oval Office.(fisheye view). 8/15/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1359-09, President Nixon seated at his oval office desk, giving his Watergate reply address on television from the Oval Office.(fisheye view). 8/15/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.

  • 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-730803
      Televised address regarding Watergate. (8/15/1973)

      Runtime: 28:08:00

      Keywords: Watergate

      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-265
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (8/15/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 38:54:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JMC (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-6492
      President Nixon Address to the Nation About the Watergate Investigations. President Nixon in rebuttal to Ervin Committee: President Nixon responds to the Senate Select Committee on Watergate's subpoena for White House tapes
      Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.
      Runtime: 01:03:00
    • WHCA-6493
      "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition". Comments on Nixon's response to Ervin Committee's subpoena
      CBS, NBC, ABC
      Runtime: 00:32:54
    • WHCA-6497
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:33:34

      11. Smith/Landry/Donaldson/Schoumacher: President Nixon's speech and what the Ervin committee hopes he'll talk about, what Archibald Cox is hoping. Time Code Start: 26:32. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, law officials, courts, trials, investigations, prosecutions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, Watergate, hearings, burglary, impeachment, resignations, recordings. Network: ABC.

      12. Reasoner/Bennent: The end of American bombing in Indochina [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 32:16. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      13. Smith/Mariano: B-2s parking at Thailand air base. Time Code Start: 34:16. Keywords: Vietnam War, Armed Forces, military, air bases, airfields, airports, aircraft. Network: ABC.

      14. Reasoner/Kincaid: Personal incomes; food prices. Time Code Start: 37:06. Keywords: food, meat, agriculture, animal products, dairy products, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: ABC.

      15. Reasoner/Kaestner: Vice President Agnew speech. Time Code Start: 40:06. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings, speeches, statements. Network: ABC.

      16. Smith: Commentary on eras coming and going. Time Code Start: 42:08. Keywords: lifestyles, politics, history, retrospectives. Network: ABC.

      17. Utley/Goralski: President Nixon's speech on Watergate. Time Code Start: 43:58. Keywords: Watergate, Presidents, speeches, Senate committee hearings, investigations, officials, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      18. Utley/Brady/Dawl: End of Cambodia bombing [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 45:43. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings, endings, ceasefires. Network: NBC.

      19. Utley/Cochran: Senator committee on Cambodian bombings [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 51:20. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.

      20. Utley/Levine: Cost of living controls. Time Code Start: 54:42. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: NBC.

      21. Utley/Rallin: food prices are up. Time Code Start: 56:50. Keywords: food, meat, agriculture, animal products, dairy products, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: NBC.

      22. Utley: Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 58:17. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: NBC.

      23. Mudd/Schakne: President Nixon's speech on Watergate; Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 58:56. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      24. Mudd/Rather/Webster/Davis: Cambodia bombing ends; President Nixon's statement on end of Cambodian bombing [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 60:56. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings, endings, ceasefires, Presidents, statements. Network: CBS.

      25. Mudd: New restrictions on wheat sales. Time Code Start: 65:46. Keywords: U.S., American, agriculture, food, crops, products, sales, restrictions, agreements, contracts, negotiations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)