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February 12, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, February 12, 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: Friday, February 11, 1972

Next Date: Sunday, February 13, 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 Abplanalp Residence, Walker Cay, Bahamas

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

    Republic of Korea Troops in Vietnam and Force Modernization, April 1971-December 1972

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

    Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks

    • 276. Telegram From the Department of State to the Interests Section in Egypt, Washington, February 12, 1972, 1947Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1166, Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations Files, Middle East—Jarring Talks, February 1–16, 1972. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Cedar Double Plus. Drafted by Atherton and Sterner, cleared by Sisco, and approved by Rogers and Kissinger. Repeated to Tel Aviv.

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

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

    Afghanistan, 1969-1972

    • 355. Telegram 884 From the Embassy in Afghanistan to the Department of State, Kabul, February 12, 1972, 1114Z

      The Embassy “brought home” the narcotics problem to Afghan officials by stimulating and circulating foreign press coverage of the problem.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5 AFG. Confidential. Also sent to USIA. Sent as a joint USIS/Embassy message.

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

    Mexico

    • 473. Telegram 718 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State, February 12, 1972, 0048Z., February 12, 1972, 0048Z

      During a lunch meeting at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, Foreign Minister Rabasa made an “impassioned pitch” for settlement of salinity issue before the Echeverría-Nixon in June.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 33–1 MEX–US. Confidential; Limdis. In telegram 31524 to Mexico City, February 24, the Department was “not sanguine re possibility settlement salinity problem by time Echeverría visit unless Rabasa proves much more realistic in understanding U.S. position and practical possibilities open to us.” (Ibid.)

  • 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-8428 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-8428-, Vice President Agnew on a golf course during the Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament. 2/12/1972, Palm Springs, California golf course. Spiro Agnew, unidentified man.

    Roll WHPO-8429 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-8429-, Unidentified young women and others around a swimming pool. 2/12/1972, Palm Springs, California poolside. unidentified persons.

  • 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-018
      Walker, Chapin, Elbourne, start 0900. (2/12/1972)

      Runtime: 68:00:00

      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-5052
      "The Bob Hope Golf Classic".
      WCET, Los Angeles
      Runtime: 01:30:08
    • WHCA-5053
      "First Person". Mrs. Douglas reminisces about her 1950 California U.S Senate campaign against Rep. Richard M. Nixon
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 00:33:48
    • WHCA-5054
      "Black on White". U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson.
      Henry Jaffe Enterprises, Inc.
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-5072
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:30:24

      12. Film report on Arizona's voting of state delegates to the National Convention. Time Code Start: 30:15. Keywords: Vote, voters, voting, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, delegations, conventions. Network: NBC.

      13. Report on Phase II of wage and price controls/film from Washington, D.C./ on camera comments by Donald Rumsfeld. Time Code Start: 33:23. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      14. Report on President Nixon's China trip and entourage accompanying him there. Time Code Start: 35:27. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, international, People's Republic of China, entourage, cabinet, advisors. Network: NBC.

      15. Report on the committee for a New China policy/ comments by Robert Gomperts, Daniel Tretiak, and Dr. Richard Pfeiffer. Time Code Start: 35:55. Keywords: People's Republic of China. Network: CBS.

      16. Report on increase in meat prices/ on camera comments by Donald Rumsfeld. Time Code Start: 39:02. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

      17. Film report on Arizona's voting of state delegates to the National Convention/ film of the convention in Arizona. Time Code Start: 40:46. Keywords: Vote, voters, voting, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, delegations, conventions. Network: CBS.

      18. Report on Senator Hubert H. Humphrey's appointment of Lloyd Hand to head his campaign staff. Time Code Start: 42:45. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, nominations, appointments, confirmations. Network: CBS.

      19. Film report of Vice President Agnew at the Bob Hope Golf Classic. Time Code Start: 43:14. Keywords: Comedian, actor, actors, celebrities, Vice Presidents, sports, golf, games, tournaments, celebrities. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)