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February 20, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, February 20, 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: Friday, February 19, 1971

Next Date: Sunday, February 21, 1971

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 The White House - Washington, D. C.

  • 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.

  • Decided

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.

  • 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)
      Saturday, February 20th. No fixed schedule today, except a meeting with Colombo to bid him farewell, which was first thing this morning. That led, of course, to the inevitable objection to second day meetings with foreign visitors, and he had Henry in this morning and outlined some rules as to who does and doesn't get in for this kind of session from now on. Henry was delighted with the way the President had handled the meeting this morning with Colombo, and told the President so...

      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 4, Side B, Withdrawn Item Number 8 [AC-4(B) Sel 6]
      Duration: 32 seconds

      ...particularly because he had made some strong points regarding the internal politics, which is all that really matters to the Italians. The President made the point to them that Chile had fallen to the Marxists simply because the good guys were fighting each other instead of uniting against the common enemy. This is a similar danger in Italy and, Henry was delighted the President put it so squarely to them; especially with Moro, who is the strong man and now the foreign minister, sitting in on the meeting.
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The news flap today was on an Arthur Burns story in the paper this morning, resulting from his testimony yesterday where he had said the problem wasn't one of money supply, but rather of confidence; thereby implying that he, as Chairman, didn't have confidence in the President's policies. The President was really upset about this. Arthur was trying to call him during the day, and the President said he would not take the call and, rather, had me call Arthur and tell him of his distress, and make the point strongly to Arthur that he can't get away with this kind of thing. The President has the strong feeling that we've got to really put the screws onto Arthur, and that he is not showing the proper gratitude or appreciation for the President's having put him where he is.

      Another flap arose from the continuing effort of McCloskey to discuss impeachment of the President. He's not actually called for it, but he keeps talking about it. We're going to move now to get a petition going in McCloskey's district demanding his resignation and putting the heat on him, since he's betrayed the trust of the Republicans who elected him.

      There was the usual relaxed Saturday morning with long chats with Ehrlichman on some of the above, and then with Colson on how his Project Muskie is coming along and some ideas on ways to carry that further ahead, also on general PR planning and thinking.

      Just before the President left for Camp David, I discussed the planning for the State of the World with him and recommended that he not go ahead with his plan to go on live television Thursday night with an address on the subject, because it's not of sufficient news value or general importance. As a result of talking this over, the conclusion was that the best thing to do would be to do a nationwide radio address at noon on Thursday, and then film a quick clip for television for the news that evening, rather than requesting time. I think this will be much better, and we're going ahead on that basis.

      The President then left for Camp David to spend the night. He called a couple of times after he got up there, mainly on details of the State of the World thing, winding up that he wanted Safire to call him and then he's having Safire go up tomorrow to work out some revisions with him.

      End of February 20th.
    • 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. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "A Key Point in Our Relationship": Backchannel Talks on SALT, Berlin, and the Summit

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

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

    India and Pakistan: Pre-Crisis, January 1969-February 1971

    • 117. Telegram 29201 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan, Washington, February 20, 1971, 2101Z

      The Department reiterated the reasoning behind the decision that all arms sales to Pakistan be made on a cash basis.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 PAK. Secret; Exdis. Drafted on February 19 by Spengler; cleared by Van Hollen, Schneider, and Senior Regional Adviser James H. Boughton (NEA/RA), PM/MAS, and DOD/ISA; and approved by Sisco.

  • 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 Tapes are sound recordings of President Richard Nixon's telephone conversations and of meetings held in the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room in the White House, the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building (OEOB), the Lincoln Sitting Room in the residence section of the White House, and several locations at the Presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. These recordings document many of the major events and decisions of the Nixon Administration from February 16, 1971 to July 18, 1973. Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

    Oval Office

  • 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-5717 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-02A-03A, President Nixon sitting with Ambassador to Italy Graham Martin and William Rogers. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Room, Library, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, William Rogers, Graham Martin, Emilio Colombo, Kissinger, Aldo Moro, Egidio Ortona, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-04A-20A, President Nixon meeting with Italian P.M. Emilio Colombo and others. President Nixon escorting P.M. Colombo to his limousine. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Room, Library, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, William Rogers, Graham Martin, Emilio Colombo, Kissinger, Aldo Moro, Egidio Ortona, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-21A-22A, President Nixon escorting P.M. Colombo to his limousine. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Room, Library, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, William Rogers, Graham Martin, Emilio Colombo, Kissinger, Aldo Moro, Egidio Ortona, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5717-24A-31A, President Nixon with Mr. & Mrs. John Whitaker and their two sons and with unidentified persons. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office, West Wing Portico. President Nixon, John Whitaker, Mrs. John Whitaker, sons, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-5718 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-02A-08A, President Nixon escorting P.M. Emilio Colombo to his limousine. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Entrance. President Nixon, Emilio Colombo, Aldo Moro, William Rogers, Graham Martin, aides, officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-09A, Unidentified military man walking. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, South Grounds. President Nixon, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-10A, President Nixon with unidentified woman. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing Portico. President Nixon, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5718-11A, Persons entering the presidential helicopter. 2/20/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, South Grounds. President Nixon, unidentified persons.

  • 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-4195
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:31:19

      1. Newman/Jones: Laos. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      2. Newman/Levine: Construction wages and prices. Time Code Start: 02:31. Keywords: jobs, unemployment, labor, buildings, housing, wages, costs. Network: NBC.

      3. Mudd: Heaviest fighting on Ho Chi Minh Trail since beginning of Laos operation; 5 helicopters shot down. Time Code Start: 04:20. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, aircraft, accidents, Killed in Action, KIA, death tolls, fatalities. Network: CBS.

      4. Mudd: Retaliations to President Nixon's new budget. Time Code Start: 05:19. Keywords: reports, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, payments. Network: CBS.

      5. Mudd/Serafin: Senator McCloskey's comments on President Nixon policies. Time Code Start: 06:12. Keywords: Presidents, reports. Network: CBS.

      6. Mudd: Economic report. Time Code Start: 08:22. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports, speeches. Network: CBS.
    • WHCA-4211
      Excerpts From the "NBC Nightly News" Indochina War Coverage, Tape I (Weekly News Summary).
      NBC

      49. Newman: South Vietnamese troops stalled in Tchepone, Laos. Time Code Start: 54:21. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      50. Jones: Red China reactions to Laos invasion (People's Republic of China). Time Code Start: 55:22. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

      51. Newman: Mansfield on possible Red China entry into the Vietnam war (People's Republic of China). Time Code Start: 56:26. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)