December 17, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Sunday, December 17, 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: Saturday, December 16, 1972

Next Date: Monday, December 18, 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.
- Original typewritten diary (PDF)
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.
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

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)
- 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
- Text search for December 17, 1972
- Date search for December 17, 1972
All National Archives Units
- Text search for December 17, 1972
- Date search for December 17, 1972

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.
- No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date
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. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973
The Christmas Bombings, December 14-29, 1972
- 184. Message From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Gayler) and the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (Meyer), Washington, December 17, 1972, 0010Z
  Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Chairman, Records of Thomas Moorer, Box 71, Linebacker II Messages, December 1972. Top Secret; Immediate; Specat; Exclusive. Repeated to Commander in Chief, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet; Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces; Commander, 7th Air Force; Commander, 8th Air Force; Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces; Commander, Seventh Fleet; and Commander, Carrier Task Force 77.
- 185. Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the Air Attaché at the Embassy in France (Guay), Washington, December 17, 1972, 0135Z
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 859, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIII. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Written on December 16.
- 186. Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Chief of the U.S. Delegation to the Paris Peace Talks (Porter), Washington, December 17, 1972
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 859, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIII. Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent via Guay and Haig. The note “deliver immediately” is typed on the message. Printed from the copy that was approved for transmission as WHP 263.
- 187. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 17, 1972, 10:45 a.m.
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 17, Chronological File. No classification marking. All blank underscores are omissions in the original.
- 188. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 17, 1972, 10:45 a.m.
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 17, Chronological File. No classification marking. Although filed as separate document, this transcript is a continuation of the conversation between Nixon and Kissinger in Document 187.
- 189. Letter From President Nixon to South Vietnamese President Thieu, Washington, December 17, 1972
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 859, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIII. No classification marking. Nixon’s handwritten mark-up of Kissinger’s draft letter is ibid. Kissinger later wrote: “I submitted a very firm draft [of this letter] to Nixon. Contrary to his habit of signing my drafts without change, Nixon toughened it nearly to the point of brutality.” (White House Years, p. 1459)
Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972
Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks
- 323. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State, Amman, December 17, 1972, 0805Z
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 617, Country Files, Middle East, Jordan, Vol. VIII. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, Jerusalem, Kuwait, Tel Aviv, and USUN.
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

Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.
Old Executive Office Building
White House Telephone
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-D1113 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1113-02, 03A, 20, 22, White House hall Christmas decorations. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. Grand Hall, Blue Room, room, White House.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1113-05, 07, 08, 10, White House interior Christmas tree on display. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. Grand Hall, Blue Room, room, White House.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1113-11, 13, 14, The Washington Monument, and National Christmas Tree seen from a White House window. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. Grand Hall, Blue Room, room, White House.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1113-16, 17, 19, Decorations hanging on White House interior Christmas tree. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. Grand Hall, Blue Room, room, White House.
Roll WHPO-D1123 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-01-07, A White House East Room religious worship service, Catholic Cardinal John Krol and President Nixon officiating. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, John Cardinal Krol, Mamie Eisenhower, Obernkirchen Children's Choir members, Bob Dole, Robin Dole, unidentified men and women.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-08-09, A decorated White House Christmas tree. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-10-11, Two unidentified men talking in red room. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. unidentified men.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-12, 14-19, President Nixon and Pat Nixon with Roman Catholic Cardinal John Krol, President of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, and Mamie Eisenhower. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, John Cardinal Krol, Mamie Eisenhower.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-13, President Nixon and Pat Nixon with Roman Catholic Cardinal John Krol, President of the U.S. Conference of Bishops. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, John Cardinal Krol, Mamie Eisenhower.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-20-23, President Nixon with the Obernkirchen Children's Choir. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Obernkirchen Children's Choir members and directors.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-24-27, President Nixon and Pat Nixon and Roman Catholic Cardinal John Krol, President of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, greet guests in a reception line. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, John Cardinal Krol, Mamie Eisenhower, Obernkirchen Children's Choir members, Bob Dole, Robin Dole, unidentified men and women.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-28-29, President Nixon standing with Bob Dole and Robin Dole. John Cardinal Krol, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops standing nearby. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Bob Dole, Robin Dole.
- Frame(s): WHPO-D1123-30-32, President Nixon and Pat Nixon with unidentified guests. 12/17/1972, Washington, D.C. East Room, Red Room, Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, unidentified guests.
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.
P - Formal Presidential Remarks
- WHCA-SR-P-721204
  Remarks by President Nixon in Christmas worship service with John Cardinal Krol. (12/17/1972)
  
  Runtime: 2:23
  
  Keywords: Church service, worship service, prayer service, religion
  
  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-5953
  "Face the Nation", "Meet the Press" AND "Issues and Answers" with Senators Eagleton and Javits.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:32:53
- WHCA-5954
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:35:07
  
  11. Utley/Dancy: General Haig off to Saigon, Vietnam; Peace?, McGovern's reaction and statement; Vietnam, Sergeant Taylor killed in action. Time Code Start: 24:58. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations, military, officials, travel, trips. Network: NBC.
  
  12. Utley: President Nixon appoints Anne Armstrong and Clements to posts. Time Code Start: 30:55. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, nominations, appointments, confirmations, women. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)

- New York Times of December 17, 1972
- AP Images photos from December 17, 1972
- Getty Images photos from December 17, 1972
The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.
- December 1972 Broadcast Index
Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
- December 17, 1972

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