1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

December 30, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, December 30, 1970, 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: Tuesday, December 29, 1970

Next Date: Thursday, December 31, 1970

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.

    Bill Signings

    Congress, Communications to

    • Trade Agreements Program, 1969 (7 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 7, December 30, 1970)
      The President's Message to the Congress Transmitting the 14th Annual Report on the Program.

    Acts Approved by the President

    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 Elliott Lee Richardson, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and Dr. Daniel P. Moynihan, Counsellor to the President, following the President's meeting with Senate leaders on the family assistance plan.

    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 underwent his annual physical examination at Bethesda Naval Hospital. His physician, Brig. Gen. Walter R. Tkach, USAF, reported that the President's health was excellent.
    • The President met with the Senate leadership and the Chairman and ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance to receive assurances that legislation for the family assistance program would be given the highest possible priority in the 92d Congress.
    • Ambassador Domingo Santa Maria of Chile paid a farewell courtesy call on the President at the White House.
    • Dr. William A. Wexler, president of B'nai B'rith, Rabbi Herschel Schacter, chairman of the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry, and Max Fisher, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, met with the President and Secretary of State William P. Rogers.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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)
      Wednesday, December 30.

      President spent the morning getting his annual physical checkup. Unfortunately, we blew the plan for Tkach to brief afterwards. He did the briefing, but Ron didn't really get over to him the point of getting out the line that the President needs to stop working so hard, so Walter, instead, gave a pretty straight medical report and this led to great concern on the President's part. That was compounded by his discovery that we had completely failed to get out the story of his meeting with the Boys' Town group yesterday, at which he apparently spent 10-15 minutes talking with the kids and answering some of their questions, explaining to them about bipartisan support in the Congress and the point of what a great place Boys' Town was, because outstanding boys like them had made it so. There was no one in the room at the time to record this. Nobody got any story out on it. This led the President back to the discussion last night with Connally, and the fact that we don't really get out the points that we should be getting.

      I spent about three hours with him this afternoon after he got back from the physical, when he got into all of this. He talked with Rogers on the phone and agreed to meet with the Jewish group, so Bill brought them over a little later in the afternoon. He also talked to Meany, who wants him to support a wage board bill that they've gotten through Congress.

      Then he got back onto checking on some of the odds and ends and mentioning some of Connally's other points, one of which was that Lincoln was the great figure of the 19th century and Churchill and de Gaulle were the two great figures of the 20th century; the big thing about all of them is their comeback from defeat, not their conduct of wars, etcetera. Connally feels we should very much build the comeback story.

      He then had Colson in to review the Teddy Kennedy newspaper story again and was intrigued with the activity that's going on with that. Our other problem today was that Oberdorfer and, I guess, some of the others screwed up the story on the announcement of the plan for the TV conversation next week, and-- so the tone hasn't been set properly for that. We've got to try to untangle that.

      Also, the President decided, on the basis of an Alsop story in the paper today that leaked all of our plans for the State of the Union that we'd have to reevaluate the decision to drop the value-added tax idea. The President now thinks it's been leaked to so many people that we're going to have to put something in, at least for the purpose of sweetening the revenue sharing. He wanted Ehrlichman to develop a plan for one percent value-added tax, giving it all to the states to use for any purpose as a reduction in tax or an increase in general revenues. He thinks if we do just a small one we can get away with it. Ehrlichman totally disagrees and they had a long session this afternoon to discuss this.

      Rose snuck in and conned the President into accepting her invitation to attend the Keogh going away party at Blair House tonight. The President spent several hours after that agonizing over it and was very distressed that he had to go, but couldn't figure out how to get out of it.

      End of December 30.
    • 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

    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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

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

    • 93. Airgram From the Department of State to All Posts, Washington, December 30, 1970, 2:06 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 3 GA. Limited Official Use. Drafted by the IO/OES Staff and approved by Joel M. Fisher. Also sent to USUN, Montreal for ICAO, Paris for UNESCO and OECD, Rome for FODAG, Vienna for IAEA and UNIDO, and Geneva.

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

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

    Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    Spain

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

    Oceans Policy

    • 385. Telegram 211200 From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Washington, December 30, 1970, 2355Z

      In anticipation of upcoming NATO consultations on Law of the Sea issues, the Department summarized the relevant resolutions adopted by the 25th UN General Assembly.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 33-6. Limited Official Use. Drafted on December 28 by Oxman, Salisbury and Francis S. M. Hodsoll (IO/UNP); cleared by Stevenson and Herz, and in S/FW and EUR/RPM; and approved by Hillenbrand. Repeated to USNMR SHAPE and USUN.

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

    Iran 1970

    • 108. Telegram 5566 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State, Tehran, December 30, 1970, 0930Z

      The Ambassador reported that another crisis between Iran, OPEC, and the consortium was brewing, due to the Shah’s insistence on raising oil prices.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 6 IRAN. Confidential. Repeated to Beirut, Dhahran, Jidda, the Hague, Kuwait, London, Paris, and Caracas. In Telegram 206077 to London, Bonn, Brussels, the Hague, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo, December 18, the Department disseminated the resolutions from the recent OPEC conference in Caracas, which included increasing and standardizing prices, and authorizing Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia to negotiate with the oil companies within 30 days (Ibid., PET 3 OPEC).

  • 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-5405 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5405-02-05, Deputy Special Assistant John E. Nidecker with a group on children on the steps of White House. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior. John Nidecker, unidentified children.

    Roll WHPO-5406 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5406-02-09, President Nixon meeting with Senate leaders, including Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, and Russell B. Long. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, Russell B. Long.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5406-09A, President Nixon meeting with Senate leaders, including Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, and Russell B. Long. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, Russell B. Long.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5406-20, President Nixon meeting with Senate leaders, including Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, and Russell B. Long. Viewed standing outside Oval Office looking in through the window. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, Russell B. Long.

    Roll WHPO-5407 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5407-02-03, President Nixon shaking hands with H. E. Domingo Santa Maria, the Ambassador from Chile. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, H. E. Domingo Santa Maria.

    Roll WHPO-5408 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5408-01-13, President Nixon attending Jim Keogh's departure reception at Blair House. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. Blair House. President Nixon, James Keogh, unidentified guests.

    Roll WHPO-5409 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5409-02-04, President Nixon posing for a portrait standing with Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the Oval Office. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Patrick Moynihan.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5409-05-11, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman and George Shultz, Director of the OMB. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman, George Shultz.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5409-11, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman and George Shultz, Director of the OMB. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman, George Shultz.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5409-12-21, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman and George Shultz, Director of the OMB.Viewed from the outside of an Oval Office Window looking in. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman, George Shultz.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5409-15, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman and George Shultz, Director of the OMB. Viewed from the outside of an Oval Office window looking in. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Patrick Moynihan, John Ehrlichman, George Shultz.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5409-20, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Daniel Patrick Moynihan (not pictured), John Ehrlichman and George Shultz, Director of the OMB. Viewed from the outside of an Oval Office Window looking in. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, George Shultz.

    Roll WHPO-5410 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5410-01-10, President Nixon shaking hands with Ron Ziegler and his family. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ron Ziegler, Ziegler family members.

    Roll WHPO-5411 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5411-03-07, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Secretary of HEW Elliott Richardson, Senators Hugh Scott, Mike Mansfield, Wallace F. Bennett, Russell B. Long and White House staff members Bill Timmons, Ron Ziegler, John Ehrlichman and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, unidentified staff members William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5411-09-17, Daniel Patrick Moynihan posing individually with four different staff members. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. unknown. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, unidentified staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5411-18-21, Daniel Patrick Moynihan posing in a group shot with his staff members. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. unknown. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, unidentified staff members.

    Roll WHPO-5412 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5412-03-26, Pat Nixon working at her desk during a meeting with her personal Staff Director and Press Secretary Connie Stuart. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Office of the First Lady. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart.

    Roll WHPO-5413 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5413-03A-08A, Pat Nixon standing on the South Lawn, the White House building is visible in the background. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-5414 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5414-02A-19A, Portrait of Pat Nixon standing on the South Lawn. The White House is visible in the background. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5414-04A, Portrait of Pat Nixon standing on the South Lawn. The White House is visible in the background. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-5415 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5415-02A-09A, Pat Nixon standing in a White House hallway. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, hallway. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart, unidentified White House staff.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5415-10A-17A, Pat Nixon standing near a table where flower bouquet arrangements can be made from fresh flowers nearby. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart, unidentified White House staff.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5415-15A, Pat Nixon standing near a table where flower bouquet arrangements can be made from fresh flowers nearby. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5415-18A-36A, Pat Nixon sitting at her office desk working with her personal Staff Director and Press Secretary, Constance Cornell Stuart. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Office of the First Lady. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5415-25, 19, Pat Nixon sitting at her desk working. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Office of the First Lady. Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5415-30A, Pat Nixon sitting at her office desk working. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Office of the First Lady. Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-5416 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5416-02A-12A, Pat Nixon standing in a hallway. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, hallway. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart, unidentified White House staff.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5416-13A-24A, Pat Nixon standing with a flower bouquet arrangement. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, interior. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart, unidentified White House staff.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5416-25A-35A, Pat Nixon sitting at her office desk. 12/30/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Office of the First Lady. Pat Nixon, Constance Cornell Stuart, unidentified White House staff.

  • 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.

    G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-G-071
      Press briefing by Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Elliot Richardson and Daniel P. Moynihan, with Ronald Ziegler. (12/30/1970, Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 36:00:00

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JAD (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-4064
      "CBS Morning News" with Donald Rumsfeld interview. Donald Rumsfeld, Counselor to the President
      CBS
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-4065
      "Science 1970 - 'Science And Politics' ".
      CBS
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-4072
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      20. Jarriel: President Nixon's health. Time Code Start: 49:12. Keywords: Presidents, health, illness, medical care, fitness, medical examinations. Network: ABC.

      21. Smith: Commentary on Russian Jews. Time Code Start: 51:22. Keywords: Soviet Union, Russia, USSR, Jews, Jewish, Hebrew, Judaism, Israel. Network: ABC.

      22. Chancellor/Duke: President Nixon's health. Time Code Start: 53:17. Keywords: Presidents, health, illness, medical care, fitness, medical examinations. Network: NBC.

      23. Chancellor/Keith Klein: Army spies. Time Code Start: 55:10. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, espionage, spies, spying, operatives, investigations. Network: NBC.

      24. Collingwood/Pierpoint: President Nixon's Health. Time Code Start: 57:15. Keywords: Presidents, health, illness, medical care, fitness, medical examinations. Network: CBS.

      25. Collingwood/Dick: L. Mendel Rivers funeral. Time Code Start: 59:35. Keywords: death memorials, burials, internments, religious services, funerals. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)