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August 4, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, August 4, 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: Friday, August 3, 1973

Next Date: Sunday, August 5, 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.

  • 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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

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-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

    Costa Rica

    • 115. Telegram 2786 From the Embassy in Costa Rica to the Department of State, San José, August 4, 1973, 1610Z

      Summary: Emphasizing the importance of a strong inter-American system for Costa Rican national security, Foreign Minister Facio discussed with Ambassador Vaky the restructuring of the Organization of American States, the future of OAS sanctions on Cuba, and Costa Rica’s campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential. Repeated to Guatemala City, Managua, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, and New York. All brackets are in the original except those indicating garbled text and “[point blank?],” added for clarity. In telegram 2946 from San José, August 20, the Embassy reported that Facio appeared to be discouraged by Venezuela’s rejection of his alternate proposal on Cuba sanctions and noted that he would nonetheless continue to advocate his initiative despite U.S. opposition. (Ibid.) An attachment to September 27 talking points sent by Lazar to Kubisch in advance of an October 1 meeting with Facio outlined the Venezuelan and Costa Rican initiatives on OAS sanctions on Cuba and noted that the U.S. position on the issue had “not changed from that conveyed to him [Facio] by Ambassador Vaky.” (Ibid., ARA/CEN Files: Lot 75D469, Costa Rica—Political, 1973) In telegram 2772 from San José, August 2, Vaky reported on Costa Rican candidacy for Panama’s UN Security Council seat. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) The memorandum mentioned in section 3 was not found.

    Vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976

    Peru

    • 289. Telegram 5644 From the Embassy in Peru to the Department of State, Lima, August 4, 1973, 0005Z

      Summary: The Ambassador informed García Bedoya that the U.S. Government would request a postponement of an IBRD vote on a loan for Peru until the public announcement of the discussions to resolve investment disputes.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–1731. Secret; Immediate, Nodis. Telegram 5520 from Lima has not been found. In telegram 157090 to Lima, August 9, the Department informed the Embassy that because the Peruvian Government agreed to an announcement, the U.S. Government would vote for a $25 million IBRD agricultural and livestock credit loan for Peru. (Ibid., P840114–1942) The August 9 Peruvian Government announcement of its agreement to investment discussions with Greene is in the Department of State Bulletin, August 27, 1973, p. 310.

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

    Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

    • 29. Message From West German Chancellor Brandt to President Nixon, Bonn, August 4, 1973, 1400Z

      Summary: Brandt replied to Nixon’s July 30 message on the EC response to the Year of Europe.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 61, Country Files, Europe, General, German Exchange (3 of 3). Secret; Immediate; Annex Charlie. Nixon’s July 30 message was transmitted July 31, and is published as Document 28. In message WH31904 to Brandt, August 11, Nixon stated that his concern was not with the creation of a common European position, but the process by which it would be achieved, such that “our allies will no longer be engaged in a joint Atlantic process but in a negotiation between the United States, on the one hand, and the EC Nine on the other.” Nixon, asserting that the U.S. was “not the supplicant in the Year of Europe,” expressed his hope that they could “bring this project to a successful conclusion as partners” and noted that Brandt’s message led him “to believe that this is still possible.” (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 754, Presidential Correspondence, Germany, Willy Brandt 1972 (1 of 3))

  • 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 Videotape Collection contains “off-the-air” recordings of televised programs produced between 1968 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • WHCA-6477
      "Agronsky & Company" AND "McCaffery at Large". Vice President Gerald Ford.
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:59:20
    • WHCA-6482
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:28:28

      13. Utley/Stern: Cambodian bombing [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 44:49. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.

      14. Hagard: People who brought action to stop bombing in Cambodia early [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 47:36. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.

      15. Utley/Jones: Gainesville Eight trial. Time Code Start: 51:00. Keywords: Presidential elections, conventions, veterans, trials, conspiracy, conspiracies, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: NBC.

      16. Utley/Marlow: Beef shortages; food prices and problems cause rising costs. Time Code Start: 53:06. Keywords: food, animal products, meat, sales, costs, prices, supply, shortages, freezes, increases. Network: NBC.

      17. Utley/Nessen: Cancer research. Time Code Start: 55:08. Keywords: health, cancers, diseases, medical research, investigations. Network: NBC.

      18. Rather/Graham: Chief Justice William Douglas orders end to Cambodia bombings ignored [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 58:41. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings, Supreme Court, judges, justices, statements. Network: CBS.

      19. Rather/Shaw: Attorney Fred Thompson comments on the White House tapes; CBS mail on Watergate. Time Code Start: 60:30. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, letters, public opinions. Network: CBS.

      20. Rather/Rabel: More on demonstrations around the trial of Gainesville Eight. Time Code Start: 63:33. Keywords: Presidential elections, conventions, veterans, trials, conspiracy, conspiracies, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: CBS.

      21. Utley: Cambodian Air Force [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 65:39. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      22. Utley/Cochran: Senate to hold hearings on Cambodia and Laotian bombings and secret missions [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 67:18. Keywords: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.

      23. Utley/Kaplan: Secretary Shultz says beef freeze will stand until September. Time Code Start: 69:24. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, food, animal products, meat, sales, costs, prices, supply, shortages, freezes. Network: NBC.

      24. Utley: L. Patrick Gray (former FBI acting director) to return to witness stand tomorrow followed by Kleindienst. Time Code Start: 71:37. Keywords: Federal Bureau of Investigations, leaders, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)