1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

December 31, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 31, 1971, 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 30, 1971

Next Date: Saturday, January 1, 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

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.

    • Annotated and Unmarked News Summaries [Note: Although there was no News Summary on this date, due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]

  • 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)
      Friday, December 31.

      The President called on the phone before we left Key Biscayne. Was concerned about the phone list we had turned in, because he still wants the top contributors on it. And also he wants a breakdown list for each of the nine major states, showing the ten most important people on a power basis in those states, the people that are most influential, who could be for us, and those that the President should, therefore, keep in touch with. Also maybe one or two from each of the other states. Then on the plane back to Washington this evening, he said he was concerned about the radio speech draft that Price had turned in, because there's not enough lift to it. It has too much of a "grin and bear it" approach, and he thinks it would be a better article than a speech. He's also decided January is really too busy and will hold the radio speeches for the March and April period anyway. He also got back to the list question. Wanted to be sure some young people and women were included, and he wants a real study on how they're setting up the women organization for the campaign, to get them volunteering––their recognition and participation.

      He got into some schedule questions as to when Hubert and the others are announcing and whether we can shift our New Hampshire date around. He's obviously trying to work out the Vietnam announcement schedule. He wanted to see if we could change our dates so that he could readjust his plans. In answer to Rather's question, as to whether the President would like to meet with him before the broadcast, the President said to tell him no, that he feels it's important for the credibility of the thing to be able to say that they didn't talk before the program. Of course, Rather is free to ask anything he wants, and that both of them have an interest in making the program as good as possible. He said to be sure to be very cordial with Rather when I gave him this answer.

      End of December 31.
    • 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. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    Malta

  • 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

Context (External Sources)