1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

February 11, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, February 11, 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, February 10, 1972

Next Date: Saturday, February 12, 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.

  • 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.

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, February 11.

      President had me come over early this morning about 9:00. Wanted to get into the basic line for our people to use: mainly that we've got to make the point that the Democrats-- that we've got to be careful that the Democrats don't succeed in making the point that they're more for peace than we are. The answer there is that they're prolonging the war, and hurting the peace. The answer with Muskie is, who has the best credentials: those who stood silently by while we were getting into the war and the deaths were going up, or those who were part of the group-- and those who were part of the group that got us in, or those who were getting us out? Who are you going to trust, the one who stood by silently while we were getting in, and now criticizes the peace or the one who said he would get us out and is doing so? Somehow, in other words, we've got to get over that we're more for peace than they are. Another problem is they'll hit the point of Nixon trying to keep Thieu in power, and we don't want to get the argument on to this basis. We can't let them make Thieu the issue, and we need to figure out how we get off of that. We have to make the issue of their sabotage of the peace plan, and not let the issue be the preservation of Thieu.

      The other principal point discussed this morning was the upcoming Rogers confrontation. The President feels again as he has before that he may have to bite the bullet on Rogers, but I should talk to him first. Then he backs off of that and says we've just got to find a way to fuzz it, and ride through it till after the election, and I think that's right, I don't see any way that we can bite the bullet on it now. President then adjourned that meeting, and shortly late-- afterwards left with Connally and Bebe for Walkers Cay for tonight.

      End of February 11.
    • 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. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

    Before the Easter Offensive, January 20-March 29, 1972

    Vol. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

    Before the Easter Offensive, January 20-March 29, 1972

    Vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

    Preparing for Moscow and Nixon's Trip to China, January 1-March 29, 1972

    • 48. Minutes of Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, February 11, 1972, 3:32-4:03 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H—113, SRG Minutes, Originals. Secret. These notes were attached to and transmitted under cover of a February 15 memorandum from Davis to Kissinger. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Greece

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    • 395. Telegram From the Embassy in Cyprus to the Department of State, Nicosia, February 11, 1972, 1000Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 594, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. III Jan 72–Oct 73. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated immediate to Athens, Ankara, USUN, London, and USNATO. Another copy is ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 CZECH.

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    • 396. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State, Athens, February 11, 1972, 1121Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 594, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. III Jan 72–Oct 73. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated immediate to Nicosia, Ankara, USUN, USNATO, and London. Another copy is ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 19–6 CZECH–CYP.

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    • 398. Minutes of the Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, February 11, 1972, 2:34-3:14 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–084, WSAG Minutes, Originals, 1972. Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.

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

    Italy

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

    U.S. Policy Towards International Production and Trafficking in Illegal Drugs

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

    U.S. Relations with India and Pakistan, 1972

    • 225. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, February 11, 1972, 1 p.m.

      The President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Indian Ambassador Jha discussed the possibility of establishing a “realistic” relationship between the United States and India. Kissinger reviewed the controversy over whether he had offered an assurance, during his trip to India in July 1971, that the U.S. would come to India’s assistance if India was attacked by China.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 28, Geopolitical File, India, Chronological File, 4 Nov 1971–19 Sept 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office.

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

    Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

    • 394. Telegram 1374 From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State, Islamabad, February 11, 1972, 1200Z

      Pakistani President Bhutto told Chargé Sober that he would prefer that U.S. recognition of Bangladesh be deferred until March, possibly to follow after Nixon’s trip to China.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 627, Country Files, Middle East, Pakistan, Vol. IX, Jan-31 Aug 72. Secret; Priority; Nodis.

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

    • 85. Memorandum for the Record, Paris, February 11, 1972, 4 p.m., Paris, February 11, 1972, 4 p.m.

      Additional discussion concerning the Chinese support for the North Vietnamese. President Nixon’s reelection prospects were also mentioned.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, January 1-February 29, 1972. No classification marking. The meeting was held at Chen’s residence in Neuilly.

  • 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 Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection contains public statements that took place between 1969 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    T - China Advance Team

    • WHCA-SR-T-017
      Walker, Chapin, Swift, Elbourne, Coffey, start 0910. (2/11/1972)

      Runtime: 36:00:00

      Keywords: People's Republic of China, trips

      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-5051
      "China: A Revolution Revisited". People's Republic of China John Mitchell, U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy, U.S. Senator George McGovern (D-SD) and Herbert Stein, of the President's Council of Economic Advisors.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:30
    • WHCA-5072
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:30:24

      1. Report on fighting in Vietnam/ film of South Vietnam's Air Force coming of age. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vietnam War, military, Armed Forces, Vietnamese Air Force, reports. Network: ABC.

      2. Report on the Versailles Conference. Time Code Start: 02:41. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, Indochina War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: ABC.

      3. Report on decriminalizing marijuana/ film of Marijuana study and its effects on driving. Time Code Start: 03:16. Keywords: laws, legalization, drugs, drug abuse, cannabis, marijuana, pot smoking, addicts, addiction, prevention programs. Network: ABC.

      4. Report on the resignation of Legal Aid director/ film of Boston Legal Services/ on camera comments by Massachusetts Governor Francis Sergeant. Time Code Start: 05:42. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: ABC.

      5. Report on Representative Wilbur Mills remaining a Democrat/ film of Senator Muskie campaigning. Time Code Start: 09:50. Keywords: political parties, Democrats, Democratic Party. Network: ABC.

      6. Report on government Marijuana study/ on camera comments by Dr. Bertram Brown. Time Code Start: 11:36. Keywords: medical, advisors, drugs, drug abuse, cannabis, marijuana, pot smoking, addicts, addiction, prevention programs. Network: NBC.

      7. Report on administration criticizing of President Nixon's Peace Mission/ on camera comments by Secretary of Defense Laird. Time Code Start: 14:09. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, speeches, statements, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      8. Report on Secretary of Agriculture Butz comments re: high food prices/ film of Illinois grocery store. Time Code Start: 15:54. Keywords: food, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, cabinet, advisors. Network: NBC.

      9. Report on aerial assaults in Vietnam/ film from aboard the U.S.S. Constellation. Time Code Start: 18:50. Keywords: Vietnam War, Navy, ships. Network: CBS.

      10. Report on President Nixon's attack of Democratic critics/ film of Republican campaign/ Peter Selkowe (editor of the state news service)/ film of campaigning by Representatives McCloskey and Ashbrook/ report on the Nixon campaign. Time Code Start: 21:15. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP, Republican Party, Democrats, Democratic Party. Network: CBS.

      11. Reasoner: commentary on President Nixon's China trip and the press. Time Code Start: 27:43. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, international, People's Republic of China, speeches, statements, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, news. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)