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December 15, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, December 15, 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, December 14, 1973

Next Date: Sunday, December 16, 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 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.

    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.

  • 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. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    • 392. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to President Nixon, Washington, December 15, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 56, President’s Daily Briefing, 16 November–31 December, 1973, President’s Daily Briefs, December 1–December 15, 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Contains Codeword. Scowcroft initialed for Kissinger. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads: “The President has seen.”

    • 393. Memorandum of Conversation, Damascus, December 15, 1973, 4-10:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memcons, Memcons, HAK & Presidential, December 1973, [1 of 2]. Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Drafted by Sisco. The meeting took place in the President’s office. Kissinger met with the Foreign Minister just prior to this meeting. (Memorandum of conversation, December 15; ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 US/KISSINGER)

    • 394. Memorandum of Conversation, Amman, December 15, 1973

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27–14 ARAB–ISR. Secret; Nodis. The original is marked “Draft.”

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

    Drug Control, 1973-1976

  • 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-E1987 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1987-, President Nixon meets with staff to discuss the energy situation. 12/15/1973, Washington, D.C. Oval Office. President Nixon, William E. Simon, Administrator of the Federal Energy Office (FEO) and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, John C. Sawhill, Deputy Administrator of the FEO and Associate Director of the OMB, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

  • 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.

    I - Various Administration Events

    • WHCA-SR-I-135
      Christmas worship service, with the President and Billy Graham [see P-731217]. (12/15/1973)

      Runtime: 5:20

      Keywords: Church service, worship service, prayer service, religion

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    K - Informal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-K-130
      Informal remarks by President Nixon in a meeting (photo opportunity) with William Simon. (12/15/1973, Oval Office, White House)

      Runtime: 0:01:24

      Keywords: Energy, energy conservation, daylight savings

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CRB (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-6699
      Segments of the Evening News with John Dean's Testimony to the Senate Watergate Committee, TAPE I. Walter Pincus and Fred Thompson.
      Eastern Educational Network
      Runtime: 01:34:45
    • WHCA-6700
      Segments of the Evening News with John Dean's Testimony to the Senate Watergate Committee, TAPE II. Vera Hirschberg.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 00:33:25
    • WHCA-6701
      "Face the Nation"; "Meet the Press" AND "Issues and Answers".
      Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.
      Runtime: 01:29:36
    • WHCA-6702
      "Agronsky & Company". FTN: Sen. Byrd; "MTP": Chester Smith; "I&A": Senators Fulbright and Bumpers.
      CBS, NBC, ABC
      Runtime: 00:31:00
    • WHCA-6705
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      10. Rather/Benton: President Nixon postpones checkup to sign bill and hold meeting with William Simon. Time Code Start: 16:46. Keywords: Presidents, health, bills, laws, signings, signing ceremony, meetings, cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

      11. Rather/Bradley: Grave registration officer killed in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 20:09. Keywords: Vietnam War, military, troops, killed in action, KIA, fatalities. Network: CBS.

      12. Rather/Franken: More on the officer's killing. Time Code Start: 22:50. Keywords: Vietnam War, military, troops, killed in action, KIA, fatalities. Network: CBS.

      13. Rather/Duvall: Auto manufacturers cut production of big cars. Time Code Start: 24:26. Keywords: automobiles, cars, vehicles, manufacturing, sizes, decreases. Network: CBS.

      14. Rather/Threlkeld: Production of oil from shale in Colorado. Time Code Start: 26:03. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, sales, costs, increases. Network: CBS.

      15. Rather/Jones: Political support turnout at the National Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Time Code Start: 29:36. Keywords: Pageant of Peace, Holidays, Christmas, trees, lighting, ceremony, celebrations, Washington, D. C.. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)