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August 25, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, August 25, 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: Thursday, August 24, 1972

Next Date: Saturday, August 26, 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 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.

  • 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.

    • Annotated and Unmarked News Summaries [Note: Although there was no News Summary on this date, due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]

  • 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.

    • Transcript of diary entry (PDF)
      Friday, August 25.

      In the office at San Clemente. Went through a whole bunch of miscellaneous follow-up things. Wants Bill Rogers to take his wife to Japan, wants the Utica speech edited and get copies out to people for follow-up, was upset about the Washington Post crowd estimate of only 3,000 in San Diego when there were actually about 15,000. Wants to lock the Gateway West deal in San Francisco. Wants to use "Over There" as the music for the Nixon Now campaign song. Wants to get out the background story on the secret of our youth operation, which is that they run it themselves. He's delighted with the whole youth thing, and I think we've really made that point in the Convention and the follow-up day yesterday. Wants to get certificates to all the people who participated in the Convention, wants to change the plan for airport and other arrivals to have someone introduce the President. Wants to invite Billy Graham for Sunday night to the reception. Wants Ehrlichman to get a writer to work for him, sharpening up his stuff. Agreed to have Laird out here Monday, on the draft announcement, and to make the troop announcement on Tuesday. Got into a lot of the details on the celebrity party.

      Connally called, said he wants to postpone his Democrats deal for a couple of weeks, and he'll be out here. President invited him out here Friday night for dinner with Nellie, not knowing that we won't be back from Hawai’i in time. Told me to talk to Connally about scheduling, and his thoughts on that, which caused a long conference call that Ehrlichman, Connally, Mitchell, and I had. Nothing startling in that. Mitchell and Connally are both very upbeat, they both think that everything's going very well, there's some concern about the GAO report and all that, but seemed to feel we can ride through that okay.

      President’s concerned about the press conference plan, he doesn't want the press to know that we're going to do it on Tuesday, and he's going back and forth on what day to do it. Also whether to limit it to just political questions, or all kinds of questions. He went around on that, and then said it should be limited just to political, and that I should tell Buchanan that for his preparation planning.

      Big flaps back and forth on the party again, as Mrs. Nixon and Lucy changed the plans from what the President wants regarding where the receiving line's to be, whether there's to be a platform for remarks, and all that sort of thing, but I think we got them all ironed out.

      End of August 25.
    • Original audio recording (MP3)

  • 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. III, Foreign Economic Policy; International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    Foreign Economic Policy

    Vol. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

    The Parties Move Toward Agreement, July 19-October 7, 1972

    • 250. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, August 25, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 855, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XVII. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. On Lord’s cover memorandum transmitting the revised draft of the text that was sent, Kissinger wrote: “Excellent. Move forward.” (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973-1976

    Space and Telecommunications

    Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

    Uganda

    • 251. Telegram 2695 From the Embassy in Uganda to the Department of State, Kampala, August 25, 1972, 1155Z

      Ambassador Melady deplored the Asian expulsion activities of Ugandan President Idi Amin, but recommended a strict policy of no public comment. He suggested offering special immigration to a small number of expelled individuals.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 23–10 Uganda. Confidential. Repeated to USUN.

  • 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.

    L - White House Press Office Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-L-009
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (8/25/1972, Press Center, Laguna Beach, California)

      Runtime: 45:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

      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-5714
      "CBS Morning News".
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:02:42
    • WHCA-5715
      "Today" Show.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:00:35
    • WHCA-5716
      "Today" Show.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:00:21
    • WHCA-5717
      "Panorama".
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:31:26
    • WHCA-5718
      "NBC White Paper: The Road To Vietnam", Part 1 of 2; "Democratic Party Telethon" excerpt.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:05:18
    • WHCA-5719
      "NBC White Paper: The Road To Vietnam", Part 2 of 2. Richard Nixon, Pat Nixon, delegates, officials.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:05:25
    • WHCA-5720
      "The Legionnaires Meet The Candidates" AND "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition". Richard Nixon, Pat Nixon, officials, delegates.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:31:42
    • WHCA-5721
      President Nixon's Speech at the American Legion Convention in Chicago.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:06:09
    • WHCA-5722
      A Conversation with Gregg Petersmeyer in Houston.
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:29:40
    • WHCA-5728
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:34:27

      1. Reasoner/Reynolds: McGovern in Washington, D.C. speaking to meeting of Rural Elec. Cooperatives. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Gill: Vice President Agnew at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Convention, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Time Code Start: 02:20. Keywords: Vice Presidents, travel, trips, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, military. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith: The administration, the milk industry, and money. Time Code Start: 04:19. Keywords: food, dairy products, organizations, lobbys, Presidential campaigns, contributions, funding, finances, donations, investigations. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Kincaid: Effects of elections '72 on Columbus, Ohio (President Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, Vice President Agnew and Mrs. Judy Agnew on film, no audio). Time Code Start: 05:03. Keywords: Presidents, families, wife, travel, First Lady trips, domestic, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting, conventions. Network: ABC.

      5. Reasoner/Collins: Vietnam, Jane Fonda being investigated for broadcasting from Hanoi, Vietnam. Time Code Start: 09:45. Keywords: Actor, actors, celebrities, Vietnam War, celebrities, activists, media, broadcasts, investigations. Network: ABC.

      6. Smith: Commentary on President Nixon's campaign. Time Code Start: 12:18. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: ABC.

      7. Chancellor/Streithorst/Jones: Vietnam. Time Code Start: 13:57. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      8. Chancellor/Dancy: Labor supports McGovern (He speaks at Rural Elec. Cooperatives meeting). Time Code Start: 19:02. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.

      9. Briggs: Vice President Agnew in Minnesota at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Convention. Time Code Start: 21:17. Keywords: Vice Presidents, conventions, Armed Forces, veterans, organizations, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting, speeches. Network: NBC.

      10. Chancellor/Valeriani: President Nixon speaks in San Clemente, California. Time Code Start: 22:50. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, statements, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica. Network: NBC.

      11. Cronkite/Kalb: Vietnam war, North Vietnam massing supplies. Time Code Start: 24:55. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

      12. Plant: McGovern gets labor support. Time Code Start: 27:07. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: CBS.

      13. Cronkite/Serafin: Vice President Agnew in Minnesota, at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Convention. Time Code Start: 30:25. Keywords: Vice Presidents, conventions, Armed Forces, veterans, organizations, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting, speeches. Network: CBS.

      14. Rather: President Nixon in San Clemente, California and at other stops. Time Code Start: 32:32. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, residences. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)