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August 17, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, August 17, 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 16, 1973

Next Date: Saturday, August 18, 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 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.

  • 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. XXII, Panama, 1973-1976

    Panama, 1973-1976

    Vol. XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973-1976

    National Security Policy

    • 23. Minutes of Defense Program Review Committee Meeting, Washington, August 17, 1973, 3:11-4:09 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–118, Minutes of Meetings, DPRC Minutes, Originals, ’69–’73 [3 of 3]. Secret. The meeting was held in the Situation Room of the White House.

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 8-October 5, 1973

    Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy; Public Diplomacy, 1973-1976

    The National Security Council System

    The National Security Council System

    Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

    France, 1973-1976

    • 312. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 17, 1973

      Summary: Kissinger, Schlesinger, Foster, and Hoffman discussed an upcoming visit by Galley and U.S.-French nuclear cooperation.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memoranda of Conversation, Memcons, April–Nov 1973, HAK + Presidential (3 of 5). Secret. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text omitted by the editors. The memorandum incorrectly identifies the location of the meeting as the Western White House; the meeting took place in the Pentagon from 12:15 until 2:22 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, Record of Schedule) Scowcroft forwarded Kissinger the meeting materials he requested, as well as the French requirements list, under cover of an August 30 note. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 56, Country Files, Europe, General, French Exchanges (1 of 2))

  • 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-E1363 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1363-, Portrait of Richard Moore. 8/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Richard Moore.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1363-06, Formal portrait of Richard Moore smiling. 8/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Richard Moore.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1363-08, Formal portrait of Richard Moore. 8/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Richard Moore.

    Roll WHPO-E1364 Photographer: FEHR | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1364-, Pesident Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Cancer panel members to discuss Cancer programs: Chairman Benno Schmidt, Dr. R. Lee Clark, Dr. Raymond Owen and Dr. Frank Rauscher, Director of the National Cancer Institute. 8/17/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Benno C. Schmidt, Chairman, President's Cancer panel; Dr. R. Lee Clark, Member, Dr. Raymond Owen, Member-Designate; and Dr. Frank Rauscher, Director, National Cancer Institute. Thomas H. Hart, Staff Assistant.

    Roll WHPO-E1366 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1366-06A, President Nixon waves at the camera while walking the White House grounds. Another man, possibly his physician Major General Walter Tkach follows behind. 8/17/1973, Washington D.C. South grounds, White House Lawn. President Nixon, (possibly) Walter R. Tkach.

  • 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.

    K - Informal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-K-088
      Photo opportunity-Oval Office. (8/17/1973)

      Runtime: 1:30

      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-268
      Press briefing--FICAP by Virginia Knauer. (8/17/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 37:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by GSA; Recorded by Earl Doss (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-269
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (8/17/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 22:23

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      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.

  • 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-6510
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:34:02

      1. Smith/Schoumacher: White House tapes court action. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner/Zimmerman: Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 02:05. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith/Tomlinson: Administration warning to North Vietnam. Time Code Start: 03:40. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Burke: Cost of food up; fuel oil imports. Time Code Start: 07:28. Keywords: food, prices, increases, energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith: Commentary on Watergate; the unanswered questions. Time Code Start: 10:58. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      6. Utley/Cochran: Russians have MIRV ballistic missiles with Secretary Schlesinger. Time Code Start: 12:41. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV). Network: NBC.

      7. Utley/Levine: Wheat prices and the economy. Time Code Start: 15:03. Keywords: U.S., American, agriculture, food, crops, products, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: NBC.

      8. Utley/Davis: Meat prices. Time Code Start: 17:00. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: NBC.

      9. Utley/Nessen: White House tapes; Julie Nixon Eisenhower thanks hardhats (construction workers) for supporting her father. Time Code Start: 19:35. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, Presidents, families, laborers, speeches, support. Network: NBC.

      10. Utley/Sutton: Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 21:18. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: NBC.

      11. Mudd/Graham: President Nixon's tapes and the courts. Time Code Start: 22:45. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      12. Mudd/Bahr: Julie Nixon Eisenhower thanks hardhats in Florida for supporting her father. Time Code Start: 24:40. Keywords: Presidents, families, women, construction workers. Network: CBS.

      13. Mudd/Rather: U.S. Secret Service investigating itself. Time Code Start: 26:30. Keywords: security, police, employees, investigations. Network: CBS.

      14. Mudd/Schieffer/Davis: Russians have MIRV ballistic missile system of their own; Indochina fighting [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 28:15. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, military, aircraft, bombs, multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV), ballistic missile, USSR, Soviet Union. Network: CBS.

      15. Mudd/Schanke: Vice President Agnew investigation; President Nixon at San Clemente, California. Time Code Start: 32:29. Keywords: Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, Vice Presidents, taxes, investigations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)