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August 21, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, August 21, 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: Monday, August 20, 1973

Next Date: Wednesday, August 22, 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.

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

    Africa Region

    • 8. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, August 21, 1973

      Kissinger summarized and attached a progress report from Maurice Williams on his work as Special Coordinator for American Assistance to the West African Drought Disaster.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 747, Country Files, Africa, General, March 1970-. No classification marking. Sent for information. Nixon highlighted Williams’ name in the first sentence of the memorandum and wrote: “good job.” Tab A, Progress Report to the President from Maurice Williams on the African drought relief effort, August 10, is attached but not published. It is printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Vol. LXIX, No. 1786, September 17, 1973, pp. 380–83.

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

    India-Pakistan 1

    • 142. Memorandum of Conversation, San Clemente, August 21, 1973, 10-10:45 a.m.

      Indian Ambassador Kaul met Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Kissinger to discuss recent developments in Pakistani negotiations at Simla for the return of its prisoners of war from the 1971 war.

      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 was held at the Western White House.

    Vol. E-14, Part 1, Documents on the United Nations, 1973-1976

    Issues of Representation in International Organizations

    • 56. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, August 21, 1973., Washington, August 21, 1973

      Nixon approved the strategies Kissinger recommended to address questions related to Korea at the 28th United Nations General Assembly.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 304, USUN (1973 thru Sept) Vol. XI [part 4]. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Nixon approved the recommendation. Scowcroft signed the memorandum to Rogers for Kissinger. Tab II, a July 31 memorandum from Rogers to Nixon concerning Rogers’s talks in Seoul regarding U.N. strategy, is attached but not published.

  • 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.

    B - Vice-Presidential (Agnew and Ford)

    • WHCA-SR-B-253
      Press statement-Rm. 450, E.O.B. (8/21/1973)

      Runtime: 6:00

      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-270
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (8/21/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 30:25:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JMM (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-6504
      Vice President's Press Conference. FTN: AG William Saxbe; "MTP": Senator Goldwater; "I&A": Senator Lowell Weicker.
      CBS, NBC, ABC
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-6511
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Smith/Clark: Vice President Agnew press conference. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, media, news reporters, interviews. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Geer: Prosecuting Attorney George Baell speaks about Vice President Agnew inquiry. Time Code Start: 03:03. Keywords: Vice Presidents, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings, law officials. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith/Richardson/Donaldson/Cox: On investigation; press release from San Clemente, California; the effects of Watergate in Senator Baker's state; Archibald Cox is given International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) papers. Time Code Start: 04:06. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Snell: Assassination plot investigation; New Orleans, Louisiana. Time Code Start: 08:39. Keywords: murders, investigations,. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith: Commentary on why Vice President Agnew will be indicted and President Nixon isn't. Time Code Start: 10:35. Keywords: Vice Presidents, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: ABC.

      6. Utley/Stern: Vice President Agnew press conference; Elliot Richardson responds. Time Code Start: 12:10. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, media, news reporters, interviews. Network: NBC.

      7. Utley/Mackin/Goralski: Secret Service still investigating plot to kill President Nixon. Time Code Start: 16:42. Keywords: Presidents, assassinations, investigations, plots. Network: NBC.

      8. Utley: President Nixon still down in polls. Time Code Start: 21:11. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, candidates, voting. Network: NBC.

      9. Utley/Bell: Pork and poultry prices down. Time Code Start: 21:53. Keywords: food, meats, animals products, wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      10. Cronkite/Serafin/Graham: Vice President Agnew press conference; Elliot Richardson replies. Time Code Start: 23:25. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, media, news reporters, interviews. Network: CBS.

      11. Cronkite/Rather: J. Warren briefs press on Vice President Agnew and pushing to Ron Ziegler. Time Code Start: 28:34. Keywords: Vice Presidents, taxes, investments, investigations. Network: CBS.

      12. Cronkite/Walker: More on the plot to kill President Nixon. Time Code Start: 30:19. Keywords: Presidents, assassinations, investigations, plots. Network: CBS.

      13. Cronkite/Goldberg: Chicken and pork prices are down; cost of living up. Time Code Start: 32:03. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)