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August 5, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, August 5, 1974, 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: Sunday, August 4, 1974

Next Date: Tuesday, August 6, 1974

Schedule and Public 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. XXVII, Iran; Iraq, 1973-1976

    Iraq, January 1973-December 1974

    • 256. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran, Washington, August 5, 1974, 2133Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D740213–0945. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Mary H. Maughan (NEA/ARN); cleared by Korn, Naas, Saunders, Sober, and Albert A. Vaccaro (INR/RNA/NE); and approved by Atherton. Repeated to Amman, Beirut, Cairo, and Moscow.

    Vol. XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973-1976

    Negotiating the New Rules, May 1973-June 1975

    Vol. E-14, Part 2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973-1976

    • 67. Memorandum From Jan Lodal of the National Security Council Staff and the Counselor of the Department of State (Sonnenfeldt) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, August 5, 1974

      Summary: Lodal and Sonnenfeldt reviewed a Soviet proposal to begin negotiations in late September on nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. They noted the timing and level of the negotiations, in addition to the relationship between the proposed negotiations and the Limited Test Ban Treaty and the Nonproliferation Treaty, adding that they would send Kissinger a proposed reply to the Soviets later that month.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 366, Subject Files, Peaceful Nuclear Explosions (PNE) (8/68–8/74). Secret; Completely Outside the System. A notation in an unknown hand reads: “Bud—FYI (Gen S./HAK have original).” Tab A, a Soviet paper entitled “Schedule for Negotiations on the Realization of the Agreements and Understandings Reached at the Soviet-American Summit Meeting,” which Vorontosov sent to Eagleburger under a July 25 cover note, is attached but not published. Tab B, a June 7 note from Dobrynin to Kissinger, is not attached.

  • 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-E3347 Photographer: Fitz-Patrick | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E3347-, Head of State gifts. 8/5/1974, Washington, D.C.

    Roll WHPO-E3348 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E3348-, Network media Television camera set-ups on North Lawn while News reporters deliver their filmed on air reports. 8/5/1974, Washington, D.C. White House. news anchors Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, unidentified technicians.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E3348-12A, Network media Television camera set-ups on North Lawn while News reporters deliver their filmed on air reports. 8/5/1974, Washington, D.C. White House.

  • 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.

    S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

    • WHCA-SR-S-704
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (8/5/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 7:23

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (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-7115
      "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition". John D. Ehrlichman, former chief domestic advisor to the President.
      ABC
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-7144
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:32:10

      1. Reasoner/Bell/Schoumacher: New transcripts released. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner: Vice President Gerald Ford's statement today. Time Code Start: 03:45. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, investigations, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner/Donaldson: Reaction to the new transcripts on the Hill with Wiggins, Anderson, Conable. Time Code Start: 04:24. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      4. Reasoner/Clark: Senator Griffin calls for President Nixon to resign. Time Code Start: 06:45. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, investigations, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      5. Reasoner/Geer: Representative Sandman in New Jersey. Time Code Start: 08:33. Keywords: Congressman. Network: ABC.

      6. Chancellor/Brokaw: President Nixon released three new transcripts today. Time Code Start: 12:18. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor/Stern: Excerpts of the three new transcripts. Time Code Start: 15:25. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      8. Chancellor/Scherer: Reaction to Congress to the new transcripts with Anderson, Conable. Time Code Start: 17:23. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      9. Chancellor: Why President Nixon released the transcripts. Time Code Start: 19:46. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      10. Chancellor: Senator Griffin says President Nixon should resign. Time Code Start: 20:20. Keywords: Presidents, resignations, Watergate, resignations, impeachment. Network: NBC.

      11. Chancellor/Mackin: Congressional reaction to Griffin's statement. Time Code Start: 21:39. Keywords: House of Representatives, reactions,. Network: NBC.

      12. Chancellor: NBC news poll on impeachment. Time Code Start: 23:27. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, investigations, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, media, radio, television, TV, the press, network broadcasting corporations. Network: NBC.

      13. Chancellor/Briggs/Simpson: Reports on Representatives Mayne and Railsback in their home districts. Time Code Start: 24:52. Keywords: House of Representatives, Congress. Network: NBC.

      14. Mudd/Rather: President Nixon releases three new tapes. Time Code Start: 29:20. 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.

      15. Mudd/Graham: Variance between new transcripts and previous statements made. Time Code Start: 32:10. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      16. Mudd/Morton: Congressional reaction to new transcripts with President Nixon's attorney St. Clair, Wiggins and Griffin. Time Code Start: 34:53. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      17. Mudd/Jones: Vice President Gerald Ford drops defense of President Nixon. Time Code Start: 37:57. Keywords: Vice Presidents, defense, Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, investigations, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      18. Mudd/Chung: House members begin listening to tapes with Horton. Time Code Start: 39:40. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)