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February 17, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, February 17, 1973, 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 16, 1973

Next Date: Sunday, February 18, 1973

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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

Archival Holdings

  • 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.

  • 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. X, Vietnam, January 1973-July 1975

    Neither War nor Peace, January 27-June 15, 1973

    Vol. XVIII, China, 1973-1976

    Kissinger's Visits to Beijing and the Establishment of the Liaison Offices, January 1973-May 1973

    • 10. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 17, 1973, 2:20-6:25 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 98, Country Files, Far East, HAK China Trip, Memcons & Reports (originals), February 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the Great Hall of the People. All brackets are in the original.

    • 11. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 17, 1973, 10:22-11:10 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 98, Country Files, Far East, HAK China Trip, Memcons & Reports (originals), February 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in Villa 3. All brackets are in the original.

    • 12. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 17, 1973, 11:30 p.m.-1:20 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 98, Country Files, Far East, HAK China Trip, Memcons & Reports (originals), February 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in Mao’s residence at Chungnahai. All brackets are in the original. A February 17 memorandum from Kissinger, sent telegraphically through Scowcroft, to Nixon recounted that the meeting with Mao “was extremely frank and cordial, but the substance is of such sensitivity that I should report it to you in person.” (Ibid., HAK Trip Files, Box 29, Bangkok, Vientiane, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Peking, Tokyo Trip, Itinerary Como Info, Memos to Pres., February 7–20, 1973)

  • 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-E0286 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0286-03-06, President Nixon shaking hands with Cy Mendel, owner of the Hasta Restaurant. 2/17/1973, Key Biscayne, Florida room, Hasta Restaurant. President Nixon, Cy Mendel, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-E0298 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0298-, Far East Tour. The Temple of Heaven. A panda and a musk ox at the zoo. 2/17/1973, Peking, China Temple of Heaven, zoo. unidentified Chinese and American men.

    Roll WHPO-E0299 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0299-, Far East Tour. Kissinger at various sites accompanied by Chinese officials. 2/17/1973, Peking, China Forbidden City. Kissinger, Chinese officials.

    Roll WHPO-E0300 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0300-04-10, Far East Tour. Tiananmen Square. 2/17/1973, Peking, China Tianamen Square, Forbidden City. Henry Kissinger, Chinese officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0300-11-37, Far East Tour. The Forbidden City. 2/17/1973, Peking, China Tianamen Square, Forbidden City. Henry Kissinger, Chinese officials.

  • 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.

    L - White House Press Office Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-L-137
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (2/17/1973, 4 Ambassadors Presss Center, Miami, Florida)

      Runtime: 34:00:00

      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-6128
      "Agronsky & Company".
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:30:13
    • WHCA-6136
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      16. Utley/Biondi: POWs in California. Time Code Start: 38:02. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, military air bases, airports. Network: NBC.

      17. Utley/Jones: Report on South Vietnam POW welfare. Time Code Start: 40:20. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, treatment. Network: NBC.

      18. Utley: Laos and POWs; Kissinger in Peking, China. Time Code Start: 42:38. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, POWs, Vietnam Prisoner of War, People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

      19. Utley: L. Patrick Gray nominated as FBI Director. Time Code Start: 43:25. Keywords: Federal Bureau of Investigations, leaders, nominees. Network: NBC.

      20. Utley/Duke/Bell: Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) cut by President Nixon and Congress reacts. Time Code Start: 43:58. Keywords: Office of Economic Opportunity, war on poverty, VISTA, Job Corps, Community Action Program, Head Start , welfare. Network: NBC.

      21. Utley/Jones: More on Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). Time Code Start: 48:15. Keywords: Office of Economic Opportunity, war on poverty, VISTA, Job Corps, Community Action Program, Head Start , welfare. Network: NBC.

      22. Utley/Jamerson: Clothing for POWs. Time Code Start: 51:06. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, military air bases, airports. Network: NBC.

      23. Mudd/Drinkwater: POWs at California. Time Code Start: 53:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, military air bases, airports. Network: CBS.

      24. Mudd/Stauser: Kissinger in China; President Nixon nominates L. Patrick Gray as FBI Director, Senator Byrd against it. Time Code Start: 56:12. Keywords: cabinet advisors, travel, trips, People's Republic of China, Federal Bureau of Investigations, leaders, nominees, appointments. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)