February 20, 1974

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 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.

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 Congress Transmitting Reports on the Military Incentive Awards Program.
• Message to the Congress Reporting on the Balance of Payments Deficit Incurred Under the North Atlantic Treaty.
• Special Message to the Congress on Health Programs.
• Executive Order 11768—Placing Certain Positions in Levels IV and V of the Executive Schedule

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 Wednesday, February 20, 1974

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• House of Representatives: February 20, 1974
• Extensions of Remarks: February 20, 1974

Argued

• Donnelly v. DeChristoforo
• Parker v. Levy
• Secretary of the Navy v. Avrech
• Village of Belle Terre v. Boraas

Decided

• Curtis v. Loether
• Lewis v. City of New Orleans
• Morton v. Ruiz
• United States v. Kahn
• United States v. Matlock

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.

• News Summaries, Unmarked News Summaries, Box 66, News Summaries - February 1974 [9 of 16] [Note: Due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]
  • News Summary (Tues. nets, wires), February 20, 1974
• News Summaries, Unmarked News Summaries, Box 66, News Summaries - February 1974 [10 of 16]
  • Review of Wed. AM Papers/Digest of Recent Comment, February 20, 1974

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 February 20, 1974
• Date search for February 20, 1974

All National Archives Units

• Text search for February 20, 1974
• Date search for February 20, 1974

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 20 February 1974

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. E-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

American Republics Regional

• 11. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, February 20, 1974

  Summary: Kissinger briefed Nixon on proposals he planned to present at a meeting of Latin American Foreign Ministers in Mexico City.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 788, Latin America, Mexico, Vol. IV, 1973. Confidential. Sent for information. Marked: “The President has seen.” Tab A (the Latin American Foreign Ministers’ proposed agenda for the Mexico City meeting), Tab B (the agenda proposed by the United States), Tab C (a February 15 memorandum from the President’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs, Peter Flanigan, to Nixon regarding U.S. strategy for the Mexico City meeting), and Tab D (a February 12 memorandum from Rush to Nixon providing background information on the meeting and an outline of the proposed U.S. strategy for the event) are attached, but not published.

Costa Rica

• 119. Telegram 34272 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Costa Rica, Washington, February 20, 1974, 2340Z

  Summary: During a briefing for Oduber on the activities of Robert Vesco, the Costa Rican President-elect indicated that he was considering the possibility of freezing Vesco’s assets.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 779, Latin America, Costa Rica. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Lazar, cleared in substance by Robert Kushner of the SEC and by Malmborg, and approved by Lazar. In telegram 493 from San José, February 8, the Embassy reported on a request by Oduber for a briefing by U.S. experts on the case against Robert Vesco. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P740146–0979) In telegram 1002 from San José, March 13, the Embassy reported on a bill introduced in the Costa Rican legislature that appeared to be intended to protect Vesco against any future extradition proceedings, adding that the timing of the legislation’s introduction, at a moment when both Figueres and Oduber were out of the country, suggested that “no one apparently wants to be around to take the inevitable heat.” (Ibid., [no film number])

Vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976

Peru

• 295. Memorandum of Conversation, Mexico City, February 20, 1974

  Summary: Kissinger and de la Flor discussed regional issues and the dispute over fishing rights.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820043–2412. Confidential; Nodis. Drafted by Zweifel; cleared by Kubisch; approved by Bremer on February 21. The meeting took place in the Foreign Minister’s suite in the Hotel Camino Real. Kissinger and de la Flor were in Mexico City for a meeting of the hemisphere’s Foreign Ministers. The meeting followed a November 14–16, 1973, Latin American Foreign Ministers Conference in Bogotá that approved eight points as the “bases for a new dialogue between Latin America and the United States”: cooperation for development, prevention of coercive economic measures, restructuring the inter-American system, solution of the Panama Canal question, restructuring the international commerce and monetary systems, compelling multinational enterprises to respect the sovereignty of their host nations, transfer of technology, and a reconsideration of the general panorama of relations between Latin America and the United States. (Telegram 9438 from Bogotá, November 17, 1973; ibid., [no film number]) Kissinger’s Mexico City speech is in the Department of State Bulletin, March 18, 1974, pp. 257–262.

Vol. E-14, Part 1, Documents on the United Nations, 1973-1976

Food Policy

• 137. Memorandum From the Coordinator for World Food Conference Affairs (Martin) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, February 20, 1974., Washington, February 20, 1974

  Martin reported on the first Preparatory Committee meeting for the upcoming World Food Conference.
  
  Source: Department of State, S/WF Files, Lot 90 D 313, S/WF—Memoranda to the Secretary, General. No classification marking. Drafted by Martin.

Vol. E-14, Part 2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973-1976

• 30. National Security Study Memorandum 195, Washington, February 20, 1974

  Summary: President Nixon directed that an ad hoc group, comprised of representatives from the Department of Defense, Department of State, Central Intelligence Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Atomic Energy Commission, and National Security Council Staff, conduct a study of U.S. policy on nuclear testing.
  
  Source: Central Intelligence Agency, OPI 29 (Office of Deputy Director of Intelligence), Job 82M00587R, Box 5, Folder NSSM 195. Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to Moorer.

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.

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-E2252 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2252-03A-06A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Vice-President Gerald Ford. 2/20/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office.

Roll WHPO-E2253 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2253-02-12, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Secretary of HEW Caspar Weinberger. 2/20/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Caspar Weinberger.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2253-04, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Secretary of HEW Caspar Weinberger. 2/20/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Caspar Weinberger.

Roll WHPO-E2254 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2254-02-10, Republican Congressional Leadership meeting. 2/20/1974, Washington, D.C. White House,.

Roll WHPO-E2255 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2255-04-14, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Secretary of HEW Caspar Weinberger. 2/20/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Caspar Weinberger.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2255-06, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Secretary of HEW Caspar Weinberger. 2/20/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Caspar Weinberger.

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.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-740218
  Photo opportunity with CW. (2/20/1974)
  
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

• WHCA-SR-S-497
  Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (2/20/1974, [not listed])
  
  Runtime: 37:22:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-S-498
  Press briefing by Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Caspar Weinberger. (2/20/1974, [not listed])
  
  Runtime: 30:00:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  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-6799
  "Agronsky & Company". A discussion of the energy crisis Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward.
  Eastern Educational Network
  Runtime: 00:27:51
• WHCA-6805
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  
  15. Smith/Donaldson: Emergency energy bill might die in the House. Time Code Start: 27:54. Keywords: fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.
  
  16. Smith/Jarriel: Republicans meet with President Nixon on Michigan defeat at the polls. Time Code Start: 29:36. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, elections. Network: ABC.
  
  17. Smith/Tomlinson: Pentagon spying with Senator Symington. Time Code Start: 31:29. Keywords: United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces, military, espionage, spies, operatives, investigations. Network: ABC.
  
  18. Smith: Commentary on Michigan election and Watergate. Time Code Start: 33:44. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.
  
  19. Chancellor/Cochran: Pentagon spying. Time Code Start: 35:23. Keywords: United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces, military, espionage, spies, operatives, investigations. Network: NBC.
  
  20. Chancellor/Scherer: On impeachment; John Dean to testify at Chapin's trial. Time Code Start: 38:07. Keywords: Dirty Tricks, political sabotage, trials, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: NBC.
  
  21. Chancellor/Brokaw: President Nixon talks on loss of support for Republicans in Michigan. Time Code Start: 40:54. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP, Presidents, speeches. Network: NBC.
  
  22. Brinkley: Commentary on William Simon on accomplishments. Time Code Start: 42:43. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, achievements. Network: NBC.
  
  23. Chancellor/Nessen: Veterans not getting VA checks. Time Code Start: 44:47. Keywords: military, troops, benefits, payments, funding, problems. Network: NBC.
  
  24. Cronkite/Schieffer: Pentagon spying. Time Code Start: 47:52. Keywords: United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces, military, espionage, spies, operatives, investigations. Network: CBS.
  
  25. Cronkite/Schorr: Democrats ready to close suit against Republicans in Watergate hearings. Time Code Start: 49:35. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP, Republican Party, Democrats, Democratic Party, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  26. Cronkite/Morton: Emergency energy bill might die in House. Time Code Start: 51:14. Keywords: fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, bills, laws, legislation. Network: CBS.
  
  27. Cronkite/Threldkeld: Randolph Hearst in California on kidnapping (father of Patty Hearst). Time Code Start: 52:36. Keywords: Symbionese Liberation Army, SLA, militants, organizations, plots, conspiracy, conspiracies, kidnappings, terrorism, victims, crime, crimes, offences, infractions, criminals, criminality, law breaking, law and order. Network: CBS.
  
  28. Sevareid: Commentary on Secretary of State Kissinger in Mexico City and Latin America. Time Code Start: 55:04. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, travel, trips, travel, trips, South American, Central America, Mexico. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of February 20, 1974

• AP Images photos from February 20, 1974
• Getty Images photos from February 20, 1974

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.

• February 1974 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• February 20, 1974