December 7, 1972

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 Camp David, Maryland

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.

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.

• Message to the Crew of Apollo 17 Following Launch of the Spacecraft.

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 7, 1972

Argued

• Brown v. United States
• Goosby v. Osser
• Indiana Employment Security Division v. Burney
• United States v. Florida East Coast Railway Company

Decided

• National Labor Relations Board v. Granite State Joint Board, Textile Workers Union of America, Local 1029, AFL-CIO
• Swenson v. Stidham
• Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

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)
• 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 7, 1972
• Date search for December 7, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for December 7, 1972
• Date search for December 7, 1972

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 07 December 1972

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

Special Meetings of the Security Council

• 145. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State, Panama City, December 7, 1972, 2208Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 3 SC. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to USUN.

UN Finances and Reduction of the U.S. Assessment

• 209. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, New York, December 7, 1972, 0219Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 10–4. Confidential; Priority; Limdis.

Vol. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

Paris Negotiations Collapse, October 24-December 13, 1972

• 145. Message From President Nixon to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) in Paris, Washington, December 7, 1972, 0511Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 858, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXII (1). Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Kennedy, Guay, and Haig.

• 146. Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff, Paris, December 7, 1972, 1337Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 858, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXII (1). Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Guay.

• 147. Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Paris, December 7, 1972, 2133Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 858, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXII (2). Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Haig, Guay, and Kennedy.

Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

China, March-December 1972

• 269. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, December 7, 1972, 11:25 p.m.-12:15 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President’s File—China Trip, China Exchanges. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the PRC Embassy.

Vol. XXIX, Eastern Europe, 1969-1972

Bulgaria

• 76. Telegram From the Embassy in Bulgaria to the Department of State, Sofia, December 7, 1972, 0815Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL BUL–US. Confidential; Limdis.

Vol. XLII, Vietnam: The Kissinger-Le Duc Tho Negotiations

Breakdown of Negotiations, November 1972-December 1972

• 35. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, December 7, 1972, 3-7 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 865, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam Negotiations, Camp David Memcons, December 1972 [3 of 3]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place at 108 Avenue du Général Leclerc in Gif-sur-Yvette. All brackets are in the original. The tabs are attached but not printed.
  
  In his report to the President after the meeting, Kissinger first went into the details of the various proposals and counterproposals, amendments, and revisions presented during the session. Then he developed a broader view of what was happening and what it meant, observing that “it is now obvious as the result of our additional exploration of Hanoi’s intentions that they have not in any way abandoned their objectives or ambitions with respect to South Vietnam. What they have done is decide to modify their strategy by moving from conventional and main force warfare to a political and insurgency strategy within the framework of the draft agreement. Thus, we can anticipate no lasting peace in the wake of a consummated agreement, but merely a shift in Hanoi’s modus operandi. We will probably have little chance of maintaining the agreement without evident hair-trigger U.S. readiness, which may in fact be challenged at any time, to enforce its provisions.
  
  “Thus we are now down to my original question: is it better to continue to fight on by scuttling the agreement now; or be forced to react later, vindicated by the violation of a solemnly entered agreement? Were we to opt for the former, I can with ample justification recess the talks tomorrow on grounds that would leave us in a good public position, emphasizing Hanoi’s absolute unwillingness to give us any assurance on the issue of their troops in the South or to even accept modifications to the text of the agreement which would establish the principle of nonintervention in the future. If on the other hand we opt for an agreement, we would then have to be prepared to react promptly and decisively at the first instance of North Vietnamese violation. I raise these issues not because the agreement itself is bad but because the balance of existing forces cannot get us a better agreement; no war in history has been settled on better terms than the reality of forces on the battlefield could justify. Nor can our worries be fixed by specific provisions at this point. The GVN approach and our vigilance are the key factors.” (Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. IX, Vietnam, October 1972–January 1973, Document 147)
  
  Kissinger did not express a preference in his report, but in a telephone conversation with Haldeman that day he made it clear that he favored the second option, and Haldeman so informed the President. (Ibid., Document 150, footnote 3)
  
  Nixon’s immediate reply gave Kissinger instructions for the December 8 meeting. “I have decided,” the President’s message reads, “that we should go forward with the second option with the only condition being that the agreement we get must be some improvement over the October agreement as you have indicated it is.” He added: “I am completely aware of all the problems we will have in getting agreement from Thieu and in policing the agreement if it is reached, however I believe the risks of the other option of breaking off the talks and escalating the bombing are far greater.” (Ibid., Document 150)

Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

Libya

• 95. Telegram 1849 From the Embassy in Libya to the Department of State, Tripoli, December 7, 1972, 1456Z

  The telegram warned that the United States could expect overt discrimination from Libya due to its policy of support for Israel.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL LIBYA–US. Secret;Exdis. Also sent to Lagos. In telegram 199168, November 2, the Department instructed the Embassy not to broach the topic of the F–5s, but observed that Tripoli had neither been asked for, nor made, payments for the F–5s. (Ibid., DEF 12–5 LIBYA)

Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

Cuba

• 265. Telegram 221538 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, December 7, 1972, 1814Z., December 7, 1972, 1814Z

  The Department of State responded to press speculation that United States-Cuban hijacking negotiations might indicate a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL CUBA–US. Unclassified. It was drafted by Philip K. Johnson (ARA/CCA); cleared in ARA/CCA and IO/UNP; and approved by Hurwitch.

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.

Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

Camp David Hard Wire

• 234-10; 1:05 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Webster, George D.
• 234-11; Unknown between 1:20 p.m. & 9:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 234-12; 9:04 p.m. - 9:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 234-13; Unknown between 9:04 p.m. & 9:12 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 234-14; Unknown between 9:04 p.m. & 9:12 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 234-15; Unknown between 9:04 p.m. & 9:12 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)

Camp David Study Table

• 157-22; 9:04 p.m. - 9:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 157-23; 9:12 p.m. - 9:12 p.m.; Camp David Operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President)

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-D1063 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1063-03, Vice President Agnew and Judy Agnew leaving their plane. 12/7/1972, Cape Kennedy, Florida tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified men.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1063-04-32, Vice President Agnew and others at the command center for the Apollo 17 launch. 12/7/1972, Cape Kennedy, Florida command center. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-D1064 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1064-, Vice President Agnew meeting with Governor George Wallace on an airplane. 12/7/1972, Cape Kennedy, Florida plane. Spiro Agnew, George Wallace.

Roll WHPO-D1065 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1065-, Apollo 17 spacecraft lift off, and seen soaring into space. 12/7/1972, Cape Kennedy, Florida air.

Roll WHPO-D1066 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1066-, Tricia Nixon Cox accepting a Christmas tree from unidentified men and Santa Claus. 12/7/1972, Washington, D.C. North Portico driveway, White House. Tricia Nixon Cox, Santa Claus, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-D1067 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1067-, Tricia Nixon Cox standing with Santa Claus and a Christmas tree. 12/7/1972, Washington, D.C. North Portico driveway, White House. Tricia Nixon Cox, Santa Claus.

Roll WHPO-D1068 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1068-, Santa Claus delivering a Christmas tree, which Tricia Nixon Cox and unidentified men accept. 12/7/1972, Washington, D.C. North Portico driveway, White House. Tricia Nixon Cox, Santa Claus, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-D1069 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1069-01-05, President Nixon seated alone in the Aspen Lodge living room at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Sun Porch, Aspen Lodge. President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, Caspar Weinberger, Carlucci, Herbert Stein, Ken Cole, Shultz, aides.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1069-02, President Nixon seated alone in the Aspen Lodge living room at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Sun Porch, Aspen Lodge. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1069-04, President Nixon seated alone in the Aspen Lodge living room at Camp David. View seen through a small square window outside looking in. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Sun Porch, Aspen Lodge. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1069-06, President Nixon holding a budget meeting at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Sun Porch, Aspen Lodge. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Assistant. Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of the OMB. Frank C. Carlucci, Deputy Director of the OMB. Herbert Stein, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; Possibly Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Deputy Assistant, George P. Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury, Charls E. Walker, Under Secretary of the Treasury, George D. Webster, Partner with Marmet and Webster (2 of 4).
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1069-06-10, President Nixon holding a budget meeting at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Sun Porch, Aspen Lodge. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Assistant. Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of the OMB. Frank C. Carlucci, Deputy Director of the OMB. Herbert Stein, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Deputy Assistant. George P. Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury. Charls E. Walker, Under Secretary of the Treasury. George D. Webster, Partner with Marmet and Webster.

Roll WHPO-D1070 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1070-, George Shultz, George Webster, and Maj. Jack Brennan standing outside Aspen Lodge at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland entranceway, Aspen Lodge. George Shultz, George Webster, Maj. John V. Brennan (AKA) Jack Brennan.

Roll WHPO-D1071 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-03-04, Unidentified persons in the Camp David kitchen. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge Kitchen. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Assistant. Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of the OMB. Frank C. Carlucci, Deputy Director of the OMB. Herbert Stein, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Deputy Assistant. George P. Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury. Charls E. Walker, Under Secretary of the Treasury. George D. Webster, Partner with Marmet and Webster.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-05-10, President Nixon conducting a budget meeting at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge Sun Porch. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Assistant. Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of the OMB. Frank C. Carlucci, Deputy Director of the OMB. Herbert Stein, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Deputy Assistant. George P. Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury. Charls E. Walker, Under Secretary of the Treasury. George D. Webster, Partner with Marmet and Webster.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-05-10, President Nixon conducting a budget meeting at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge Kitchen. President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Assistant. Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of the OMB. Frank C. Carlucci, Deputy Director of the OMB. Herbert Stein, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Deputy Assistant. George P. Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury. Charls E. Walker, Under Secretary of the Treasury. George D. Webster, Partner with Marmet and Webster.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-11-18, Ken Cole, Caspar Weinberger, Frank Carlucci, and Herb Stein standing outside at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge, Sun Porch, entranceway. Herb Stein, Frank C. Carlucci, Weinberger.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-11-18, Ken Cole, Caspar Weinberger, Frank Carlucci, and Herb Stein standing outside the Aspen Lodge at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge Kitchen. President Nixon, George Shultz, Herb Stein, Frank C. Carlucci, Ken Cole, Ehrlichman, Weinberger, Charles Walker, unidentified persons.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-20, George Shultz and John John Ehrlichman standing together at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge Kitchen. President Nixon, George Shultz, Herb Stein, Frank C. Carlucci, Ken Cole, John Ehrlichman, Weinberger, Charles Walker, unidentified persons.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-20, George Shultz and John Ehrlichman standing together at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge, Sun Porch, entranceway. George Shultz, John Ehrlichman.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1071-21, President Nixon seated informally at Camp David in the Aspen Lodge with George Shultz and Charles Walker at Camp David. 12/7/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Lodge, Sun Porch, entranceway. President Nixon, George Shultz, Charles Walker.

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.

D - First Family

• WHCA-SR-D-040
  Tricia Nixon Cox remarks upon receiving the White House Christmas tree on the Northern Portico. (12/7/1972, Northern Portico, The White House)
  
  Runtime: 12:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CRB (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

L - White House Press Office Briefings

• WHCA-SR-L-081
  Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (12/7/1972, Camp David)
  
  Runtime: 21:30
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  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-5942
  Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 00:29:33
  
  1. Reasoner/Cioffi/Rolfson/Koppel: Paris peace talks; Vietnam. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Smith: Claude Brenigar Secretary of Transportation nominee and Secretary of Transportation Volpe appointments. Time Code Start: 05:04. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, nominations, appointments, confirmations, Ambassadors. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Reasoner: Commentary on Apollo 17 launch. Time Code Start: 05:24. Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space, space program, astronauts, moon, flights. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Chancellor/Dobyns/Kaplan: Paris peace talks (Isham). Time Code Start: 07:21. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.
  
  5. Chancellor/Levine: Wholesale prices up. Time Code Start: 10:46. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.
  
  6. Chancellor: New cabinet appointments. Time Code Start: 12:31. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, nominations, appointments, confirmations. Network: NBC.
  
  7. Brinkley's Journal: Report from Georgia. Time Code Start: 13:06. Keywords: Supreme Court, overturns, death penalty. Network: NBC.
  
  8. Cronkite/Fenton/Kalisher: Paris peace talks. Time Code Start: 16:21. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.
  
  9. Cronkite/Pierpoint/Schorr: Wholesale prices up; more cabinet announcements (Ziegler, [unreadable]). Time Code Start: 18:57. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, appointments. Network: CBS.
  
  10. Sevareid: Commentary on East-West relations thaw and warming of Communist-US relations helped by nuclear arms agreement; VIDEO, AUDIO LOSS DURING COMMENT. Time Code Start: 23:17. Keywords: SALT, S.A.L.T., Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Cold War, détente,. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of December 7, 1972

• AP Images photos from December 7, 1972
• Getty Images photos from December 7, 1972

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 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• December 7, 1972