December 21, 1972

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 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.

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.

• Federal Register of Thursday, December 21, 1972

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 21, 1972
• Date search for December 21, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for December 21, 1972
• Date search for December 21, 1972

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 21 December 1972

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

Coordinating Committee on Export Controls, 1969-1972

• 386. Letter From the Assistant General Manager for National Security of the Atomic Energy Commission (Giller) to the Acting Staff Director of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Weiss), Washington, December 21, 1972

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 83 D 305, NSDM 159. Confidential. The letter is Tab D to a December 30 memorandum from Armstrong to Irwin; see footnote 1, Document 387.

Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

U.S. Position Papers and Assessments of General Assembly Sessions

• 109. Memorandum From the Director of Regional Affairs, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Moore) to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Green), Washington, December 21, 1972

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 3 GA. Confidential. Drafted by McNutt. The memorandum is stamped “Mr. Green has seen.”

Vol. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

The Christmas Bombings, December 14-29, 1972

• 212. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer), Washington, December 21, 1972, 11:23 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Chairman, Moorer Diary, July 1970–July 1974. Top Secret.

• 213. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer), Washington, December 21, 1972, 1:33 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Chairman, Moorer Diary, July 1970–July 1974. Top Secret.

• 214. Message From Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Washington, December 21, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1020, Alexander M. Haig Special File, Gen. Haig’s Vietnam Trip, Tohaig/Haigto & Misc., December 17–22, 1972 [3 of 3]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Printed from a copy that was approved for transmission as Tohaig 51.

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

U.S.-Cuba Hijacking Agreement, 1969-February 1973

• 140. Information Memorandum from Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Meyer) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, December 21, 1972

  Meyer forwarded a report from Swiss Ambassador Masnata in Havana on his discussion with Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Anillo on the proposed hijacking agreement.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Confidential; Nodis. Drafted by Norbury. Rogers informed the President of the Masnata-Anillo discussion that evening. (Ibid., President’s Evening Reading: Lot 74D 164)

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

Iraq 1972

• 330. National Intelligence Estimate 36.2–72, Washington, December 21, 1972

  The CIA analyzed the extent of the Iraqi role in regional problems in the Middle East.
  
  Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79R01012A, Box 442, 2, NIE 36.2–72, Iraq’s Role in Middle Eastern Problems. Secret.

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

Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

• 433. National Intelligence Estimate 32.1–72, Washington, December 21, 1972

  The estimate assessed political, economic, and diplomatic developments in Bangladesh.
  
  Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79–R01012A. Secret. The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, Defense, the Treasury, and the NSA participated in the preparation of this estimate. The Director of the CIA submitted this estimate with the concurrence of all members of the United States Intelligence Board with the exception of the representative of the FBI, who abstained on the grounds that it was outside his jurisdiction. A cover sheet and table of contents are not published.

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.

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-D1150 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1150-03-06, Members of a choir wearing blue choir robes, standing by a Christmas decorated stairway entrance. 12/21/1972, Washington, D.C. Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. choir, unidentified staff members.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1150-07-20, Unidentified White House staff members pose for a Christmas reception group portrait in front of a decorated Christmas Tree. 12/21/1972, Washington, D.C. Grand Hallway, Blue Room, White House. choir, unidentified staff members.

Roll WHPO-D1151 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1151-05-10, Deputy Special Assistant John E. Nidecker accepting Christmas presents and gifts from Mr. & Mrs. George. 12/21/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown. Nidecker, Mr. & Mrs. George.

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.

L - White House Press Office Briefings

• WHCA-SR-L-094
  Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (12/21/1972, 4 Ambassadors Presss Center, Miami, Florida)
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  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-5956
  Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  1. Smith/Tomlinson/Schoumacher: Vietnam War report. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Reasoner/Bargman: Bombing in North Vietnam; loss of B-52. Time Code Start: 02:45. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Reasoner/Smith: President Nixon ultimation. Time Code Start: 06:33. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Smith/Giggins: Paris peace talks. Time Code Start: 06:53. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: ABC.
  
  5. Smith/Farmer: Brezhnev reaction to bombing. Time Code Start: 08:34. Keywords: Heads of State, Soviet Union, USSR, Russia,Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings,. Network: ABC.
  
  6. Smith: James Schlesinger named to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Time Code Start: 09:58. Keywords: national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, spying, espionage, appointments, appointees. Network: ABC.
  
  7. Utley/Dobyns/Stevens: Vietnam, technical meeting stopped, Moscow applying pressure; General Haig due back in U.S. today. Time Code Start: 10:15. Keywords: Vietnam War, Soviet Union, USSR, negotiations, military, leaders, travel, trips. Network: NBC.
  
  8. Utley/Duke: Economic Development Administration (EDA) being dropped by White House. Time Code Start: 15:31. Keywords: Presidents, organizations. Network: NBC.
  
  9. Utley/Stern: Watergate case being given to the court. Time Code Start: 17:19. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  10. Cronkite/Schieffer: Vietnam, bombing near POW camp. Time Code Start: 19:12. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, prison camps, prisons, bombings. Network: CBS.
  
  11. Kalisher: Paris peace talks. Time Code Start: 23:12. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.
  
  12. Cronkite/Schorr: Lawrence gives tapes to court. Time Code Start: 25:31. 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.
  
  13. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on President Nixon's administration. Time Code Start: 27:26. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of December 21, 1972

• AP Images photos from December 21, 1972
• Getty Images photos from December 21, 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 21, 1972