December 24, 1970

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.

Statements by the President

• Christmas, 1970 (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1726, December 24, 1970)
  Statement by the President.

Veto Messages

• Bill for the Relief of Miloye M. Sokitch (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1726, December 24, 1970)
  The President's Memorandum of Disapproval.
• Bill To Promote Training in Family Medicine (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1726, December 24, 1970)
  The President's Memorandum of Disapproval. Dated December 24, 1970. Released December 26, 1970.

Acts Approved by the President

• H.R. 2669 -- Public Law 91-571
  An Act to amend section 213(a) of the Wax Claims Act of 1948 with respect to claims of certain nonprofit organizations and certain claims of individuals.
• H.R. 8663 -- Public Law 91-582
  An Act to amend the Act of September 20, 1968 (Public Law 90-502), to provide relief to certain former officers of the Supply Corps and Civil Engineers Corps of the Navy.
• H.R. 14421 -- Private Law 91-218
  An Act to provide for the conveyance of certain property of the United States located in Lawrence County, South Dakota, to John and Ruth Rachetto.
• H.R. 15805 -- Private Law 91-219
  An Act for the relief of Warren Bearcloud, Perry Pretty Paint, Agatha Horse Chief House, Marie Pretty Paint Wallace, Nancy Paint Littlelight, and Pern Pretty Paint Not Afraid.
• H.R. 15911 -- Public Law 91-588
  An Act to amend title 38 of the United States Code to increase the rates, income limitations, and aid and attendance allowances relating to payment of pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation; to exclude certain payments in determining annual income with respect to such pension and compensation; to make the Mexican border period a period of war for the purposes of such title; and for other purposes.
• H.R. 18012 -- Public Law 91-586
  An Act to amend the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926, to authorize additional appropriations.
• H.R. 19846 -- Public Law 91-579
  Animal Welfare Act of 1970.
• S. 368 -- Public Law 91-581
  Geothermal Steam Act of 1970.
• S. 528 -- Public Law 91-583
  An Act to provide that the reservoir formed by the lock and dam referred to as the "Millers Ferry lock and dam" on the Alabama River, Alabama, shall hereafter be known as the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir.
• S. 1079 -- Public Law 91-575
  An Act consenting to the Susquehanna River Basin compact, enacting the same into law thereby making the United States a signatory party; making certain reservations on behalf of the United States, and for related purposes.
• S. 1100 -- Public Law 91-576
  An Act to designate the comprehensive Missouri River Basin development program as the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin program.
• S. 1499 -- Public Law 91-573
  An Act to name the authorized lock and dam numbered 17 on the Verdigris River in Oklahoma for the Chouteau family.
• S. 1500 -- Public Law 91-585
  An Act to name the authorized lock and dam numbered 18 on the Verdigris River in Oklahoma and the lake created thereby for Newt Graham.
• S. 2108 -- Public Law 91-572
  Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970.
• S. 2336 -- Private Law 91-220
  An Act relating to the parishes and congregations of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the District of Columbia.
• S. 3070 -- Public Law 91-577
  Plant Variety Protection Act.
• S. 3192 -- Public Law 91-574
  An Act to designate the navigation lock on the Sacramento deepwater ship channel in the State of California as the William G. Stone navigation lock.
• S. 3479 -- Public Law 91-578
  An Act to amend section 2 of the Act of June 30, 1954, as amended, providing for the continuance of civil government for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
• S. 3785 -- Public Law 91-584
  An Act to authorize educational assistance to wives and children, and home loan benefits to wives, of members of the Armed Forces who are missing in action, captured by a hostile force, or interned by a foreign government or power; and to further amend certain educational sections of title 38, United States Code.
• S. 4083 -- Public Law 91-587
  An Act to modify and enlarge the authority of Gallaudet College to maintain and operate the Kendall School as a demonstration elementary school for the deaf to serve primarily the National Capital region, and for other purposes.
• S. 4557 -- Public Law 91-580
  An Act to amend Public Law 91-273 to increase the authorization for appropriations to the Atomic Energy Commission in accordance with section 261 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and for other purposes.
• S.J. Res. 236 -- Public Law 91-589
  Joint Resolution authorizing the preparation and printing of a revised edition of the Constitution of the United States of America-Analysis and Interpretation, of decennial revised editions thereof, and of biennial cumulative supplements to such revised editions.

Checklist of White House Press Releases

The releases listed below, made public by the Office of the White House Press Secretary during the period covered by this issue, are not included in the issue.

• Press conference of Dr. Paul W. McCracken, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, on the Consumer Price Index figures.

Digest of Other White House Announcements

Following is a listing of items of general interest which were announced in the press but not made public as formal White House press releases during the period covered by this issue. Appointments requiring Senate approval are not included since they appear in the list of nominations submitted to the Senate, below.

• The President went to the Home for Incurables in Northwest Washington, D.C., to visit with patients and members of the staff.

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.

• Christmas Statement.
• Memorandum of Disapproval of a Bill for the Relief of Miloye M. Sokitch.

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 24, 1970

Selective document listing

President's Office Files

The President's Office Files consists of materials drawn together by the Special Files Unit from several administrative subdivisions within the White House Office. It is the handwriting and sensitive papers sent to the Staff Secretary that now comprise much of the President's Office Files. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Annotated News Summaries, Box 29, News Summaries - December 1970 [1 of 2]
• Annotated News Summaries, Box 29, News Summaries - December 1970 [2 of 2] [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. In addition to the individual document(s) listed below, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]
  • [12/24/70]
  • Wire Reports, December 24, 1970
  • [12/24/70]
• President's Daily Schedule, Box 101, [President's Daily Schedule, Nov.-Dec. 1970] [3 of 3]
  • The President's Schedule, Thursday - December 24, 1970

Among Pat Buchanan’s duties was the compilation and coordination of background briefing materials for Presidential and a few Vice Presidential press conferences. The briefings—for both the larger, announced press conferences and the smaller, informal ones held in the Oval Office—related to a widespread number of topics and were in the form of probable questions which the White House staff members anticipated news reporters would address to the President. Along with the questions, were answers recommended by Buchanan, other members of the White House staff, and the heads of major departments of the government.

The briefing books are primarily in the form of potential questions and suggested answers (often with heavy annotation by President Nixon), along with associated memos. A listing of briefing books is below, with indication of whether President Nixon annotated the book or not. Each book has an index to the potential questions with direct links to the National Archives Catalog. You should consult the full digital folder for suggested responses, President Nixon's annotations, and other documents and topics not covered by the index.

PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCE 2 [December 24, 1970] (Annotated)

Citation: PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCE 2 [December 24, 1970]; box 2; White House Central Files: Staff Member and Office Files: Patrick J. Buchanan; Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA

Consult the full digital folder for other briefing materials not in the form of prepared questions and answers.

• POLAND
  • How do you evaluate the events in Poland? What do they mean for East-West relations and the rest of Eastern Europe?
• HANOI RELEASE OF POW LIST
  • What is your opinion of the recent decision by Hanoi to release lists of American prisoners to aides of Senators Kennedy and Fulbright?
• POSSIBLE ESCALATION AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM
  • In your last press conference you indicated conditions under which you would resume bombing of North Vietnam, and spelled out what we would do. Are you planning to escalate the war?
• POSSIBLE NEW COMMITMENT TO DEFEND CAMBODIA
  • Could you comment on the charge by Senator Fulbright and others that the aid appropriation for Cambodia is in effect a new commitment to defend that country?
• SOVIET BASE IN CUBA
  • There are conflicting reports on the construction of a Soviet submarine base in Cuba -- and American efforts -- or agreement with the Soviets -- to have that base removed, or not constructed. Can you tell us if (a) there is such a base now operational or under construction and (b) whether the United States has any tacit agreement, or agreement of any kind with the Soviets, not to build such a base?
• RELATIONS WITH CHILE
  • What is your attitude toward Chile now that a Marxist, Salvador Allende, has been elected President?
• CHILE COPPER NATIONALIZATION
  • How do you regard President Allende's announcement of a Constitutional amendment providing for nationalization of the copper industry in Chile?
• TRADE AND TEXTILES
  • Now that the trade bill is dead for this session of Congress, and Secretary Stans has announced that textile negotiations with the Japanese have been suspended, how do you plan to carry out your commitment to the textile industry?
• CONNALLY FOR V. P. ??
  • In selecting John Connally to be Treasury Secretary, was there any understanding between you as to what assistance he would provide the GOP ticket in 1972, as to whether or not he would work for the defeat of John Tower, or as to his possible choice as Vice President on the GOP ticket in the next election?
• CONNALLY APPOINTMENT
  • Do you have any appointments to announce and can you tell us your thinking behind the nomination of John Connally to be Secretary of the Treasury? There are those who suggest political motivation.
• THE ENVIRONMENT
  • As you look into the future, do you think the nation and the human race have the capacity and will to survive the terrible damage we are doing to the environment?
• THE NEW CONGRESS
  • How do you feel your relations with the Ninety-Second Congress will be, considering the kind of campaign that was conducted against members of the Ninety-First. Do you think that your "new ideological majority" is still intact, considering recent statements of Senators-elect Taft and Weiker. Do you think your progressive legislation, like FAP, will stand a better chance with a more conservative Senate?
• RELATIONS WITH CONGRESS
  • Can you give us your overall view of the performance of the Congress of the United States which ended yesterday?
• CONGRESSIONAL RECESS
  • Do you have any thoughts on the Congressional recess taken over Christmas, which seems to leave much of your legislation dying for lack of support -- especially in the Senate?
• EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD VOTE
  • What do you think the impact of the eighteen year old vote will be on 1972 -- and on your own chances considering the Harris Poll showing Mr. Muskie with twice your support among young people 18-21.
• PROBLEMS WITH YOUTH
  • Why do you feel there is such strong opposition to your Administration on the part of college-age young people in this country -- and what is your view of the widespread "apathy" being reported on college campuses today?
• EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD VOTE
  • What do you think the impact of the eighteen year old vote will be on 1972 -- and on your own chances considering the Harris Poll showing Mr. Muskie with twice your support among young people 18-21.
• FAP
  • In the past you seemed to argue for welfare reform on the basis of its appeal to "conservatives;" namely emphasizing its workfare provisions. Lately, you have based your case more on the "liberal" side of the argument -- emphasizing the floor under income for every American family. Does this indicate a change in emphasis, with greater hope of success?

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)
  Thursday, December 24.
  
  We got back into some confusion today on the TV conversation, because Ehrlichman raised a question of grave doubts regarding whether this was the best approach. He thinks a fireside chat would be better and that got the President thinking about it again. The debate went on all day and he ended up back at the four network interview setup that we had originally scheduled. But he's still concerned about John's point that the country needs a sense of confidence in the issues, and that this kind of thing or a press conference will not accomplish that. John feels we've got to make the point that the country's being brought together, that we are ending the war, we are solving the economy problem, etcetera, that things are going well now and they look better for the future.
  
  The President also came up with an interesting conclusion as he was thinking through the whole youth problem. And he’s decided there is a reverse reaction of the teenagers on their parents, which results in making the parents doubt their own values. In the past, parents stood firm; the kids were always screwed up. Now, the kids are still screwed up but, instead of standing firm, the parents follow them-- follow their lead. He thinks this is a problem within our own staff, because many of them have kids with serious problems. And it is very hard for our guys to keep their balance because they're beat on by their kids, by the press, by the people they meet socially, etcetera. He's concluded, therefore, that the major effect of the youth revolution is its effect on parents and their guilt complexes.
  
  A lot of talk today about Klein. Still trying to figure out what ought to be done there. He’s convinced he's got to go and went through a lot of different ways of going about convincing him of it. He finally concluded that the thing I had suggested was the only way to do it, which is to hit him frontally. He thinks I should just open up with him, saying we'd like him to accept the Ambassadorship to Mexico. If he says no, say: we're going to dismantle the Communications Operation and we don't want you out; but we do want you where you'll be most effective and it isn't as Director of Communications; however, if you do want to stay here we'll leave you in that role, but remove all of the operating responsibility from under it.
  
  He got back on the need to get out something good every day to build the staff up, to give them a lift and to counteract the constant hammering they get from press and Congress, etcetera. Made the point regarding his meeting with Owings, who Whitaker has sneered at in his briefing paper for being spiritual in his approach to the redoing of downtown Washington and his use of federal land. The President's point is, this is just what we need and that we don't get it from Whitaker, Ruckelshaus, or Train; but we need poetry, excitement, and spiritual quality. We've got to find a way to get it. He then bet that all the year-end interviews would come out very pragmatic, low key and business-like, analyzing where we've failed or succeeded, rather than getting into the real value of the thing. He commented, while Ziegler was in the room, that Churchill's books regarding war are like Tolstoy's novels regarding war. They’re great because they don't concern themselves with war, but rather with people. You end up knowing the men, the personalities, and the great forces that went behind the great wars, rather than just the technical details of the battle.
  
  Finch called regarding the National Chairmanship, suggested to the President that it be Pat Hitt. He was absolutely stunned, although I had warned him this was coming, because he didn't think it was really serious. He’s definitely of the view that we should not go to a woman Chairman. He agrees that we should take the position of the President staying out of the National Committee question, let the Committee make the recommendation to him. Behind the scenes we'll make sure that it works out to be Dole, and let Mitchell work with Dole to get his deal completely spelled out first.
  
  As we speculated on a super-press guy to replace Klein and come in over Ziegler, he kept suggesting Dick Wilson. I then raised Stuart Alsop, and he's very much intrigued with that as a possibility and wants to figure out some way to explore it.
  
  He-- the President visited the Home for the Incurables today, at our suggestion, to wish them a Merry Christmas. He refused to take any press, or even let them know he was there until after he had gotten back, which drove Ziegler up the wall, but made the visit work out extremely well. He took Dick Moore along to get the anecdotal background and then peddle it to the press upon return and we'll see whether that accomplished our objectives. He was obviously very much impressed. I watched him for a while as he went through, and he did a superb job of dealing with the spastic-type kids as he would-- or older people, as he would hold on to an arm to keep it from waving around and then shake the hand. He talked with them in a normal conversational way, even though they couldn't talk back. And when he came out, he made the comment as he got in the car, "Boy, we think we've got troubles." It's just amazing to watch him in one of this-- in this kind of situation because he handled it so well.
  
  He got back to the office, and sat and chatted for a little while, then finally gave up for the day and went home for Christmas Eve. We had some suggestions in through Julie that they go to a Christmas Eve service tonight and to the Children's Hospital on Saturday. I don't know whether he'll do that or not.
  
  End of December 24.
• 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 24, 1970
• Date search for December 24, 1970

All National Archives Units

• Text search for December 24, 1970
• Date search for December 24, 1970

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 24 December 1970

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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

The Intelligence Community and the White House

• 223. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer) to Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, December 24, 1970

  Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 330 76 76, 020 SD. Confidential.

Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

"A Moment of Unusual Uncertainty": Meeting Between Nixon and Gromyko, October 12-December 31, 1970

• 75. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), Washington, December 24, 1970, 4:15 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 8, Chronological File. No classification marking.

• 76. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 24, 1970, 4:50 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 8, Chronological File. No classification marking.

Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

Indonesia

• 319. Memorandum From the Acting Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Brewster) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 24, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 531, Country Files, Far East, Indonesia, Vol. II. Secret.

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

• 193. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union, Washington, December 24, 1970, 2046Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 714, Country Files, Europe, U.S.S.R., Vol. XI. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Sisco, cleared by Armitage and Atherton, and approved by Sisco. Repeated Priority to USUN and to Cairo, Tel Aviv, Amman, and Nicosia. Kissinger wrote the following note on the telegram: “Why didn’t we clear this? If Saunders can’t do it, we’ll get somebody who will. HK.”

Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

• 154. Letter From the Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim in Germany (Fessenden) to the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Hillenbrand), Bonn/Bad Godesberg, December 24, 1970

  Source: Department of State, EUR/CE Files: Lot 85 D 330, Amb/DCM Correspondence, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only Addressee. Drafted by Fessenden.

• 155. Intelligence Information Cable, Washington, December 24, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 685, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. VIII. Secret. No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; Background Use Only; Routine. Prepared in the CIA. Kissinger initialed the cable indicating that he had seen it. An unidentified NSC staff member wrote the following summary for Kissinger in the margin: “Ehmke reports on this trip to the US: —reassured there is no crisis in confidence; —you, Sonnenfeldt, Hillenbrand assured him Acheson spoke for himself (?); —source close to Chancellor may have been source of info for NY Times article; —French have rejected Brandt proposal for continuous 4 power talks; —Bahr wants to move faster than Ehmke.”

Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

The Horn

• 305. Telegram 208803 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Somalia, Washington, December 24, 1970, 0130Z

  The telegram reported that during a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State Newsom, Somali Ambassador Addou asked what aid might be given if Somali flag vessels discontinued trading with North Vietnam and Cuba. Newsom responded that even before the change in government in Somalia the U.S. bilateral aid program was scheduled to end after Fiscal Year (FY) 72 and it was not possible to make any promises.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 17 Somali-US. Confidential. Drafted by D.H. Shinn (AF/E); cleared in AF/E, and AID/AFR/ESA; and approved by Newsom. Repeated to Rome, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi.

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

India and Pakistan: Pre-Crisis, January 1969-February 1971

• 106. Memorandum From Harold Saunders and Samuel Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, December 24, 1970

  Saunders and Hoskinson summarized discussions with Pakistan and India over the issue of arms supply to South Asia.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 641, Country Files, Middle East, South Asia, Vol. I, 1970. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Saunders. Sent for information. Published from an uninitialed copy.

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-5398 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5398-01A-03A, President Nixon meeting with Secretary of the Treasury David Kennedy, Council of Economic Advisors Chairman Dr. Paul W. McCracken, George Shultz and Economic Aide Peter M. Flanigan. 12/24/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. President Nixon, David M. Kennedy, Dr. Paul W. McCracken, Labor Secretary George P. Shultz, Peter M. Flanigan.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5398-03, President Nixon meeting with Secretary of the Treasury David Kennedy, Council of Economic Advisors Chairman Dr. Paul W. McCracken, George Shultz and Economic Aide Peter M. Flanigan. 12/24/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. President Nixon, David M. Kennedy, Dr. Paul W. McCracken, Labor Secretary George P. Shultz, Peter M. Flanigan.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5398-05-14, Henry Kissinger and others standing in his office. 12/24/1970, Washington, D.C. Kissinger's office. Henry Kissinger.

Roll WHPO-5399 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5399-02A-14A, Herb Klein receiving a Catholic Bible for the President. 12/24/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Herb Klein, unidentified male.

Roll WHPO-5401 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5401-01A-12A, Presentation of a cabinet chair gift to Vice President Agnew. 12/24/1970, Washington, D.C. unknown. Spiro Agnew, unidentified staff members.

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.

H - White House Staff Member Recordings

• WHCA-SR-H-312
  Press briefing by Henry Kissinger. (12/24/1970, Press Center, White House)
  
  Runtime: 1:12:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CAL (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-H-313
  Press briefing by Paul McCracken and Ronald Ziegler. (12/24/1970, Press Lobby, White House)
  
  Runtime: 17:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CAL (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-4047
  American Enterprise Institute Debates for the '70's #3, Reel 1. Senator Barry F. Goldwater, Jr. and George Reedy, Press Secretary for President Johnson, Karen Black, James Brown.
  Daphne Productions and Roland & Jaffee Productions
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-4048
  American Enterprise Institute Debates for the '70's #3, Reel 2. Buck May, White House Photographer.
  Group W Productions, Inc.
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-4049
  "A Children's Christmas at the White House" (0-00:30:00); 12/7/1970 WTOP weather with Tim O'Brian; CBS Morning News with John Hart; Early Morning Local Edition of WTOP news (00:30:00-01:00:00). Christmas show in the East Room hosted by Pat Nixon. CBS (WTOP) News, topics include: Peam Chikan (Cambodia); planned resignation of James Farmer (Assistant Welfare Secretary); Linden, NJ, oil refinery fire (including emotional interview with worker and t
  Undetermined
  Runtime: 01:00:00
• WHCA-4052
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  All networks
  Runtime: 00:46:42
  
  13. Smith/Geer/Gill: Cost of living. Time Code Start: 22:05. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: ABC.
  
  14. Smith: President Nixon's Christmas statement. Time Code Start: 25:07. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, holidays, Christmas. Network: ABC.
  
  15. Smith/Prannigan: Middle East and Israeli Air Force. Time Code Start: 25:31. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, war, military, Armed Forces. Network: ABC.
  
  16. Reasoner/Wordham: Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and radioactive. Time Code Start: 27:55. Keywords: Cannikin, Spartan anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptor, underground tests, nuclear weapons, atomic bombs, explosions, Aleutian Islands, nuclear power, ecosystem ecology, radiation protection. Network: ABC.
  
  17. Reasoner: Commentary on "what's good with us". Time Code Start: 30:30. Keywords: media, reports, lifestyles. Network: ABC.
  
  18. Brinkley: Cost of living; nflation up .3% last month; Average pay down last month; 1st gross national product decrease in 12 years; higher figure due to inflation. Time Code Start: 32:35. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: NBC.
  
  19. Briggs: "The Jews take over! (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)". Time Code Start: 35:23. Keywords: American, Jews, Jewish, Hebrew, Judaism, Israel. Network: NBC.
  
  20. Cronkite/Stanley/Rather: Cost of living. Time Code Start: 38:34. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: CBS.
  
  21. Cronkite: POW mail from North Vietnam. Time Code Start: 42:25. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Post Office, letters, military, troops, prisons. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of December 24, 1970

• AP Images photos from December 24, 1970
• Getty Images photos from December 24, 1970

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 1970 Broadcast Index

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• December 24, 1970