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December 21, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 21, 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: Thursday, December 20, 1973

Next Date: Saturday, December 22, 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.

  • 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.

  • The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

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

    • 414. Memorandum of Conversation, Geneva, December 21, 1973, 8:10-9 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL ISR–US. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the Secretary’s suite at the Hotel Intercontinental. Brackets are in the original. Kissinger arrived in Geneva on December 20, as did Ambassador at Large Ellsworth Bunker who was the alternate head of the U.S. delegation.

    Vol. E-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

    Mexico

    • 62. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, December 21, 1973

      Summary: Responding to Rabasa’s interest in an agreement that would permit large numbers of Mexicans to enter the United States as temporary workers, Kubisch presented a study of the illegal immigration problem and recommended against the reestablishment of a bracero program.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, ARA/MEX Files, Lot 78D235, PER–Ambassador Joseph John Jova, 1973–1975. Confidential. Drafted by Bowdler and Torrey on December 20. Kissinger approved Option 2 on January 4, 1974. Sent under a December 21, 1973, covering note from Kubisch to Kissinger that indicated the memorandum was based on a study carried out by an inter-departmental working group after Kissinger told Rabasa in an October 4 meeting that the U.S. Government would reconsider its position on the illegal immigrant problem. (Document 61.) Tabs A through G are attached but not published. The draft letter to Rabasa attached at Tab A was sent on January 4, 1974.

    Vol. E-12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973-1976

    Australia, New Zealand, ANZUS, Papua New Guinea

    • 43. Letter From Acting Secretary of State Rush to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger, Washington, December 21, 1973., Washington, December 21, 1973

      Rush communicated to Schlesinger the importance of Barnard’s visit.

      Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Australia, 091.112, 1973. Secret. On bottom of the first page “22 Dec 1973. Sec Def has seen” is stamped, Rush received this letter for his signature under a covering memorandum from Sneider dated December 20. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 7 AUSTL)

    Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

    Spain, 1973-1976

    • 196. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, December 21, 1973

      Summary: Kissinger sent Nixon a report on the death of Carrero Blancoand analyzed its repercussions for Spain.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 706, Country Files, Europe, Spain, Vol. IV, January 1972–(June 1974) (1 of 2). Secret. Sent for information. Scowcroft initialed the memorandum on Kissinger’s behalf. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

  • 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-E2027 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2027-, Pat Nixon visits the Panda House at the Washington D. C. National Zoo. A Panda is visible in the background within its glass enclosed cage environment. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. National Zoo, Panda House. Pat Nixon, Panda, possibly Ling-Ling, other unidentified people.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2027-13A, Pat Nixon visits the Panda House at the Washington D. C. National Zoo. A Panda is visible in the background sitting within its glass enclosed cage environment. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. National Zoo, Panda House. Pat Nixon, Panda, possibly Ling-Ling.

    Roll WHPO-E2028 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2028-, Panda sitting on a platform in a bamboo caged environment, at the Washington, D.C. National Zoo. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. National Zoo. Panda.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2028-, Pandas in their caged environment, at the Washington, D.C. National Zoo. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. National Zoo. Panda bears.

    Roll WHPO-E2029 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2029-, Group photos of family donors of the Blue Room Christmas tree. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Unidentified family donors.

    Roll WHPO-E2030 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2030-, Snow scenes of White House exterior. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2030-04, Snow scenes of White House exterior. 12/21/1973, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2030-16, Snow scenes of White House exterior. 12/21/1973, 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-424
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (12/21/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 36:00:00

      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-6707
      "Today" Show segment. Raoul Berger and Alan Barth.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 00:14:00
    • WHCA-6711
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      35. Smith/Clark: On the energy crisis bill with Senator Jackson. Time Code Start: 74:48. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.

      36. Reasoner: Cost of living up again; Social Security increase. Time Code Start: 76:54. Keywords: Family Assistance Programs, financial aid, health assistance, retirees, retirement, senior citizens, elderly, pensions, money, wages, increases. Network: ABC.

      37. Reasoner/Kaplow: Geneva peace conference with United Nations (U.N.) Ambassador Gromyko, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State Kissinger, Eban, Fahmy. Time Code Start: 77:59. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: ABC.

      38. Reasoner/Jennings/Seamans: Egyptian and Israeli reaction to the Geneva Peace Conference. Time Code Start: 81:07. Keywords: Egyptian, Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: ABC.

      39. Smith: Commentary on moderate Arabs. Time Code Start: 82:58. Keywords: Arabian, Arabs, Middle East, Mideast, politics, opinions. Network: ABC.

      40. Chancellor/Utley: Geneva peace talks finally underway. Time Code Start: 84:37. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: NBC.

      41. Chancellor/Jamieson: Cost of living up 8.4%; housing slump. Time Code Start: 87:41. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports, real estate, housing. Network: NBC.

      42. Chancellor/Paxton: Canadian praise of U.S.. Time Code Start: 90:21. Keywords: Canada, statements, public opinions, support. Network: NBC.
    • WHCA-6712
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      1. Cronkite/Collingwood: Geneva peace talks underway. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: CBS.

      2. Cronkite/Morton: Problem arises over emergency energy crisis bill with Senator Jackson. Time Code Start: 03:06. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

      3. Cronkite/Krauss: Oil company profits up. Time Code Start: 04:36. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, corporations, stocks, investments, increases. Network: CBS.

      4. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on the energy crisis makes us all humble. Time Code Start: 09:00. Keywords: energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, sales, costs, increases, public opinions. Network: CBS.

      5. Cronkite: Part 3 of Charles Bebe Rebozo interview, President Nixon the man. Time Code Start: 11:08. Keywords: Presidents, friends, banks, executives, Internal Revenue Service, taxes, audits, investigations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)