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December 1, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 1, 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, November 30, 1972

Next Date: Saturday, December 2, 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 Key Biscayne, Florida

  • 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, December 1.

      Colson, Ehrlichman and I started our meeting on reorganization of the Colson office and relations with his outside law firm, etcetera. The President called and wanted a report on Peterson, which I didn't have. Then said he had just gotten a study from Buchanan about Ambassadors abroad -- that 55 percent are from Ivy League schools, of those we had appointed. Then jumped on the shift to the EEC after agreeing to let Rumsfeld go to NATO, which we had discussed with Shultz earlier this morning. Then said to have Ehrlichman and Colson come over, and he wanted to have a meeting with us. So we went over at 10:30 and were there for several hours. He got into the Ivy League thing, saying that our problem is we're just appointing people we know and all the people we know are Ivy League, so therefore, from now on, we appoint no more Ivy League people. That we have to get some balance. That led him into the need to quit feeding our enemies. That it's not a question of what a man's marks were in school, but what was his character.

      That led into some general discussion on personnel and operations, on Jack Miller and Alec they can be given commission appointments where we need hard line guys, but that's all. Chafee is to get nothing; Jim Rhoads is to be made Chairman of the Commission that he's on, moved up from Vice Chairman. Ehrlichman raised the point of weekly leadership meetings with the chief White House assistants as Congressional leadership without the President and that seemed to be a good idea. The President made the point that the main thing is to take away from the President's office the burden of doing things that are useless for him to do. He talked about building a new establishment in the Congress, meeting with some of the good young leaders, both Republican, and Democrat, who are with us, rather than just the established leadership. He wants to be sure that Clements knows that he's not going to get any Ivy Leaguers in the Defense Department. That when Porter comes back, he's to come in to see the President, not with Kissinger, so he can Nixonize him before he takes over at State. On Justice, he told Ehrlichman to talk to Burger about Bork taking the Griswold spot, and there was considerable other discussion on Justice. He decided that we should move Santarelli to Assistant Deputy Attorney General and make Dean Sneed Deputy Attorney General for now, and then move Santarelli up to that post when Kleindienst leaves. Use Santarelli to get a cleanout, put Wally Johnson in as LEAA and figure on possibly moving Mulligan to AG, and then to the Supreme Court at a later point. The President wanted to be sure that the Cromley piece be sent to all appointees with a letter from me saying that the President read this column and feels that it's important that you have a copy so that you understand the basis for his concerns regarding the need not to have his policy sabotaged by holdovers in the bureaucracy, and it's your responsibility to see that this doesn't happen.

      On Ambassadors, he wants to be sure we do no Ivy League appointments, that we have at least one or two labor leaders and that we have at least two blacks that supported us. He's set on Scali for the UN; and told me to go ahead and get that worked out with Bush. He wants to bring Jack Marsh into the White House and Congressional liaison in as the House Southerner. Wants to confirm Dent as the National Committee counsel with Colson as special counsel. Colson should charge his regular rate for that. There's some discussion of that.

      We then got into a general discussion of the "Connally for President" idea, and the point that he is the only one that any of us would want to see succeed the President. And that for him to do so, he's got to run as a Republican and he's got to make the move now. The President then discussed his meeting with Connally yesterday, covering the Soviet gas deal where Connally is going to put the whole thing together for exploitation of the Soviet gas field by taking in the Tennessee Gas Transmission, El Paso Natural Gas who were fighting for it, bringing them together with Brown, Root and the other factors and putting a combine together to handle the whole thing, which will make millions and millions of dollars. Also, do well for Connally, of course. The "Connally for President" discussion led to a general discussion of forming a new party. Ehrlichman raising the idea that this is our only chance -- in the next 60 days or so -- and that we should give some thought to it on the basis that you use the Republican Party as a base, but add to it the New Majority. Use Connally as the focal point candidate, but that the President has to take the lead. The President was intrigued with this as a possibility, recognizing that you can never really build the Republican party into a majority and into a viable ongoing party, and that the only hope for leaving something probably is to do a new party. The question is whether it could be done and whether we really want to make the effort. I suspect nothing will come of it, but it was an interesting discussion, and as Ehrlichman said when we left, it's one way to get the meeting to break up, which it finally did.

      I met with Colson afterwards and we worked out the plan for internal staffing and his replacement unit, and discussed the whole White House staff structure, which I am meeting to go over with Ehrlichman this evening -- and then with Ehrlichman and Ziegler so we will be ready for an announcement tomorrow.

      I had a long phone conversation with Klein. And was not successful in getting him to agree to announce his departure tomorrow. So we are going to announce that he is staying and then have him depart later, which is going to be a sticky wicket, but we'll try to make it come off. As for others, we decided to announce Colson's departure but not Chapin's, so that we don't tie the two Watergate figures together, as the press would play it.

      Bush called, saying that Dole is upset today after being calmed down yesterday, because there is a new UPI story quoting high Republican sources, giving all the dope on what transpired with the President. Mitchell thought that maybe I should call him and firm up the arrangements, but Bush said he didn't think I should. Scali was all upset because he claims the networks had a leak on his appointment to the UN, which I think was just something trying to smoke it out. So, we'll see what develops on that.

      End of December 1.
    • 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. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

    Foreign Assistance Policy, 1969-1972

    • 102. Draft Memorandum From Secretary of the Treasury Shultz to President Nixon, Washington, December 1, 1972

      Source: Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Files of Under Secretary Volcker: FRC 56 79 A 15, IFIs. No classification marking. Drafted by E.J. Finkel. A handwritten note on the memorandum reads: “Discussed in IDA IV mtg w/PAV et al. 12/1.” According to notes by the Deputy to Assistant Treasury Secretary Hennessy, George H. Willis, the December 1 meeting was an internal Treasury meeting attended by Volcker, Hennessy, Finkel, Hirschtritt, and several others. Willis’ notes deal only with the IDA-share issue. (Ibid.)

    Trade and Commerce, 1969-1972

    • 283. Action Memorandum From Robert Hormats, Helmut Sonnenfeldt, and Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 1, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 322, European Common Market, Volume IV 10/72-7/73. Secret. Attached to an April 30, 1973, memorandum from Scowcroft to Dam. At the top of the page Kissinger wrote: “[illegible] Sonnenfeldt—please explain just what this implies operationally.” Hormats, Sonnenfeldt, and Saunders replied in a January 3, 1973, memorandum. They suggested that Kissinger contact Flanigan to indicate: 1) he agreed the United States must tell the EC, Spain, and Israel it would not accept preferential trade arrangements damaging to its legitimate economic interests, and would demand compensation; 2) the EC, Spain, and Israel might consider the proposed $750 million compensation claim so extreme as to jeopardize the U.S. negotiating position; 3) he agreed that at the onset of Article XXIII consultations Eberle and someone from the State Department should call on the three to explain U.S. objectives; and 4) most importantly, he recommend to Flanigan that the United States not present its views to the EC, Spain, and Israel until the President made his decisions on how he wanted to handle U.S.-European political, economic, and security relationships and relations with Israel. (Ibid.)

    Vol. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

    Paris Negotiations Collapse, October 24-December 13, 1972

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    Vol. XXXIII, SALT II, 1972-1980

    SALT II, 1972-1980

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

    U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: The Olympic Attack and the Anti-Terrorism Initiatives, September−December 1972

    Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

    Iran 1972

    Iraq 1972

    • 328. Airgram A–6 From the Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State, Baghdad, December 1, 1972

      Lowrie offered a tentative political assessment of the situation in Iraq based on secondary sources and the public media.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 IRAQ-US. Confidential. Repeated to Abu Dhabi, Algiers, Amman, Ankara, Beirut, Bonn, Cairo, Dhahran, Jidda, Khartoum, Juwait, London, Manama, Moscow, New Delhi, Oman, Paris, Prague, Rabat, Tehran, Rome, Tripoli, and Tunis. Drafted by Lowrie on December 6; approved by Lowrie. In a letter to Thomas J. Scotes (NEA/ARN), December 18, Lowrie wrote that “it is no exaggeration to say that we are ostracized” by the Iraqis. “The main frustration is therefore, having to rely completely on diplomatic colleagues (of whom only a few are well informed) and the public media.” (NEA/ARN, Office of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq Affairs, Records Relating to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, 1968–72, Lot 75D442, Box 14, POL 17, REPIR, American Personnel, Resumption Consular Relations, 1972)

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    U.S. Relations with India and Pakistan, 1972

    • 318. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 1, 1972

      Saunders proposed responses to the issues that Pakistani Ambassador Khan had raised with Kissinger.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 628, Country Files, Middle East, Pakistan, Vol. X, Sept 72–Oct 73. Secret. Sent for action with Kennedy’s concurrence. Kissinger initialed his approval of each of Saunders’ recommendations, with one exception. He did not respond to recommendation b of the second section relating to military supply. Approval of recommendation b for dealing with the issue of military supply was implied in Kissinger’s delegation to Saunders of the responsibility for providing a response to Khan on the issue and in the handwritten note Kissinger added in the margin in approving recommendation a: “But move fast & give Pakistan a break”. As for the recommendation in section 4, Kissinger authorized a letter to be sent to Pakistani President Bhutto rather than an oral response. The memorandum did not have a section 5. In section 6, Kissinger approved of Saunders meeting with Ambassador Khan to discuss the issues dealt with in the memorandum. The draft letter at Tab A and the memorandum dealing with Pakistan’s request for landing rights at Tab B were attached but not published.

    Vol. E-16, Documents on Chile, 1969-1973

    Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

    • 127. Paper Prepared in the Department of State, Washington, December 1, 1972

      Summary: This paper, titled “Chile Strategy,” examined the overall policies of Allende and the implementation of those programs to date. It argued that U.S. policy should remain static and emphasize the need for appropriate compensation for expropriated U.S. property in the upcoming bilateral negotiations with Chilean officials. The Department also hoped to rally maximum international criticism of Chile’s economic policies.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 776, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. VII. Secret. The paper was drafted on December 1, but no drafters are indicated. Eliot sent this paper to Kissinger under cover of a December 2 memorandum.

  • 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-D1042 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1042-02A-05A, Shots of an empty office. 12/1/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown rooms.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1042-07A-13A, Mike Farrell receiving a painting from unidentified persons. 12/1/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown rooms. Farrell, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-D1043 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1043-, Head and shoulders shots of Judy Cole. 12/1/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown room. Judy Cole.

    Roll WHPO-D1044 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1044-, HUD Secretary Romney giving a briefing to, and standing with, a Jaycees group. 12/1/1972, Washington, D.C. room, North Portico steps, White House. George Romney, Jaycees.

  • 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.

    G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-G-194
      Press briefing by Director George Shultz of the Office of Management and Budget, with Ronald Ziegler. (12/1/1972, Amb Press Center)

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by GET (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-5940
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:32:11

      1. Smith/Burke: Peace negotiations may lead to ceasefire soon. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations, ceasefires. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Gill: Shultz to be Assistant to President Nixon and Secretary of Treasury. Time Code Start: 02:07. Keywords: Presidents, staff, cabinet, advisors, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith: Commentary on how Congress is to be blamed for increase in presidential power. Time Code Start: 03:56. Keywords: House of Representatives, criticisms. Network: ABC.

      4. Chancellor: ceasefire before Christmas? South Vietnam's President Thieu's emissary meets with Kissinger. Time Code Start: 05:31. Keywords: Vietnam War, ceasefires, officials, meetings. Network: NBC.

      5. Chancellor: "Peace is at Hand" with Kissinger and President Nixon, special report on events in last five weeks since peace announcement. Time Code Start: 07:17. Keywords: Vietnam War, Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, Indochina War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.

      6. Chancellor/Valeriani: Shultz to stay on; Dole to step down. Time Code Start: 13:32. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor/Delaney: Florida to re-institute death penalty. Time Code Start: 15:49. Keywords: courts, laws, voting, jails, penal institutions, incarceration, penitentiary, inmates, capital punishments, death sentences, death penalty. Network: NBC.

      8. Brinkley's Journal: Fishermen and problems at sea with foreign competitors; Voters' problems in Massachusetts. Time Code Start: 17:51. Keywords: Vote, voters, voting, fishing, boats, issues, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, registrations. Network: NBC.

      9. Mudd/Kalb: U.S. to sign ceasefire agreement; Kissinger meets South Vietnam's President Thieu's emissary; Vietnam war. Time Code Start: 20:40. Keywords: South Vietnam, Presidents, speeches, statements, Vietnam War, ceasefires. Network: CBS.

      10. Mudd/Pierpoint: Shultz to stay at Treasury and is appointed as Special Economic Advisor. Time Code Start: 23:31. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, appointments, economy, economics, budgets, finances, money, counselors. Network: CBS.

      11. Mudd: Senator Proxmire opposes General Motors (GM) and Ford car price increase. Time Code Start: 25:38. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, auto manufacturers, prices, reports. Network: CBS.

      12. Mudd/Morse/Schayne: Congressional foreign trips. Time Code Start: 27:33. Keywords: House of Representatives, Congressmen, travel, trips. Network: CBS.

      13. Sevareid: Commentary on congressional foreign trips. Time Code Start: 35:59. Keywords: House of Representatives, Congressmen, travel, trips. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)