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August 4, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, August 4, 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 3, 1972

Next Date: Saturday, August 5, 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 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.

  • 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.

  • The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

Archival Holdings

  • 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.

  • 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

    International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    • 241. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France, Washington, August 4, 1972, 1933Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, FN 10. Confidential; Priority; Limdis; Greenback. Drafted in Treasury by Under Secretary Volcker on August 4, and cleared in State by Armstrong (E), Weintraub (E/IFD), Springsteen (EUR), and Curran (S/S) and approved by Acting Secretary Irwin.

    Vol. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

    Foreign Assistance Policy, 1969-1972

    • 95. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, Washington, August 4, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 324, Foreign Aid, Volume II 1972. Confidential. Forwarded to the President under cover of an August 14 memorandum from Kissinger. In an August 9 memorandum, Kennedy reminded Kissinger he had discussed Laird’s concern with Weinberger and Laird on August 7, and they had “agreed that programs would be developed to meet our essential security needs following which consideration will be given to what adjustments in the ceilings would be necessary.” Kennedy recommended that Kissinger sign a memorandum to the President informing him of Laird’s concern and that programs to meet security needs would be developed within the basic limits of the Defense expenditure ceiling. (Ibid.) Regarding the August 7 meeting, see Document 96. The August 14 memorandum to the President noted that Laird and Rogers would develop programs within the limits of the Defense Department expenditure ceilings and concurred with Laird’s view that the Security Assistance ceilings were too low. The memorandum indicated that Laird and Weinberger would make recommendations on adjusting the expenditure levels.

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    U.S. Position Papers and Assessments of General Assembly Sessions

    Vol. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

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

    Vol. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

    Post-Moscow Summit Discussions and Issues, June-August 1972

    • 23. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 4, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 13. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The luncheon meeting took place at the Soviet Embassy.

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    The Summit and Congressional Approval of the SALT Agreements, May 19-October 4, 1972

    • 337. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 4, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1972, Vol. 13. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The luncheon meeting took place at the Soviet Embassy.

    Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

    International Environmental Policy

    • 325. Report on the UN Conference on the Human Environment from the Vice-Chairman of Delegation (Herter) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, August 4, 1972

      Kissinger informed Train that President Nixon had approved a recommendation that Train serve as U.S. coordinator to monitor implementation of the U.S.-Soviet Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 217, CEQ I. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Ehrlichman and Ziegler. Nixon’s letter to Train is Document 327. On April 28 the White House authorized sending a delegation to Moscow to negotiate an ad referendum environmental cooperation agreement based upon previously exchanged drafts. Dr. Gordon MacDonald headed the delegation. (Memorandum from Hillenbrand to Kissinger, May 1; ibid., Box 719, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Vol. XXII) On May 6 the environmental negotiations were successfully concluded. (Memorandum from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger, May 6, ibid.) The text of agreement is printed in Department of State Bulletin, June 26, 1972, pp. 921-923.

    • 327. Letter From President Nixon to the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (Train), Washington, August 4, 1972

      Nixon designated Train as the Chairman of the United States side of the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Joint Committee in the Field of Environmental Cooperation and the U.S. Coordinator for the agreement.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 217, CEQ I. No classification marking.

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Peru

    • 636. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Helms to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, August 4, 1972., Washington, August 4, 1972

      Director of Central Intelligence Helms reported a discussion in which Secretary of the Treasury Connally told President Velasco that Peru must offer a symbolic payment of $1 as compensation for International Petroleum Company (IPC) to reinforce that uncompensated expropriation was unacceptable. In exchange for an agreement between the Peruvian Government and IPC, the United States, according to Connally, would open credit to Peru from all sources.

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Subject Files, Job 80–B01086A, Box 14, Folder 448, P8 Peru. Secret. The DDP concurred. Printed from a copy that bears Helms’ stamped signature.

    Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

    • 148. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, August 4, 1972, 5:15-6:45 p.m., New York, August 4, 1972, 5:15-6:45 p.m.

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua discussed the recent Soviet nuclear non-aggression proposal, an Algerian proposal for Korean reunification, and the establishment of relations between West Germany and the PRC. Attached are the 12 point negotiating paper and opening statements.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, June 25, 1972-Oct 17, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Presumably drafted by Lord. Brackets in the source text. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated.

  • 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

Context (External Sources)