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December 22, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 22, 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, December 21, 1972

Next Date: Saturday, December 23, 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

    The Christmas Bombings, December 14-29, 1972

    Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

    Republic of Korea Troops in Vietnam and Force Modernization, April 1971-December 1972

    Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

    Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks

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

    Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

    • 434. Telegram 231058 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Bangladesh, Washington, December 22, 1972, 2104Z

      The Department endorsed the Embassy’s suggestion that the next aid agreement with Bangladesh be conditioned on the public acknowledgement of the agreement by the participation of a senior member of the Bangladesh Government, such as the Foreign Minister, in the ceremony staged to sign the agreement.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, AID (US) BANGLADESH. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Butcher and Lawrence B. Lesser, cleared by Laingen and AID and in substance by USIA, and approved by Meyer.

    Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

    • 171. Backchannel Message From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Haig) to William Hood, Washington, December 22, 1972, Washington, December 22, 1972

      Haig transmitted a copy of a message entitled “Message Delivered to North Vietnamese, December 22, 1972,” and provided additional text.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, Oct 24, 1972-Dec 31, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The time of transmission is not indicated on the backchannel message.

    • 172. Memorandum for the Record, December 22, 1972, New York, 3:45-4:15 p.m., New York, December 22, 1972, 3:45-4:15 p.m.

      Deputy Director of the White House Situation Room Fazio handed Shih Yen-hua a set of transcripts of President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s meeting with the North Vietnamese negotiators on December 13.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, Oct 24, 1972-Dec 31, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive. Attached are a December 29 memorandum for the record by David Y. McManis, Director of the NSC Situation Room, recounting his meetings with Shih Yen-hua and a message from the Government of the United States to the Government of the People’s Republic of China indicating that U.S. representatives in Paris would deliver a message to representatives of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. A handwritten notation on McManis’ memorandum reads: “NOTE: USSR also received Dec. 11, 1972 & transcript on 12/23/72.” A handwritten notation on the message for the Chinese reads: “Delivered to NYC by McManis, 11:00 p.m. 12/28/72.”

  • 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-D1152 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1152-06-20, The Washington Monument and Christmas trees outside of the White House, seen from the Green Room window. 12/22/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Green Room, Grand Hallway.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1152-21-26, Group shots of a choir wearing their choir robes. 12/22/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Green Room,. choir members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-D1152-27, Santa Claus seated and smoking a cigarette. 12/22/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Green Room,. Santa Claus.

  • 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-5976
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Smith/Schoumacher/Gill: POW camp possibly hit. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, prison camps, prisons, bombings. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith: USSR reaction. Time Code Start: 05:11. Keywords: Soviet Union, USSR, reactions. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith/Donaldson: Gordon Rule under pressure from Navy. Time Code Start: 05:40. Keywords: Armed Forces, Navy, military officials, leaders, hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, hirings, Roy Ash, criticisms. Network: ABC.

      4. Reasoner: Cost of living up .3%. Time Code Start: 07:40. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith: Commentary on bombing in North Vietnam. Time Code Start: 08:36. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings. Network: ABC.

      6. Utley/Rosenfeld: Vietnam, General Haig visited President Nixon. Time Code Start: 10:25. Keywords: Vietnam War, Presidents, military officials, meetings. Network: NBC.

      7. Utley/Brinkley: Gordon Rule re-assigned to new Navy job; military cost overruns. Time Code Start: 14:07. Keywords: Armed Forces, Navy, military officials, leaders, assignments, budgets, costs, reductions. Network: NBC.

      8. Cronkite/Pierpoint/Quint: General Haig met with President Nixon, Vietnam War with Freidheim. Time Code Start: 16:15. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, military, meetings, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

      9. Cronkite: Senator Goldwater supports the bombing in Vietnam, many don't. Time Code Start: 22:50. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings. Network: CBS.

      10. Cronkite/Strauser: Gordon Rule speaks out. Time Code Start: 23:36. Keywords: Armed Forces, Navy, military officials, leaders, hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, hirings, Roy Ash, criticisms. Network: CBS.

      11. Sevareid: Lack of holiday cheer in Washington D.C.. Time Code Start: 25:33. Keywords: holidays, Christmas,. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)