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February 21, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, February 21, 1970, 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 20, 1970

Next Date: Sunday, February 22, 1970

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.

    Proclamations

    • Domestic Piano Industry (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 262, February 21, 1970)
      Proclamation 3964. Dated February 21, 1970. Released February 24, 1970.

    Checklist of White House Press Releases

    The releases listed below, made public by the Office of the White House Press Secretary during the period covered by this issue, are not included in the issue.

    • Summary of the report of the President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force.
    • Press conference of Thomas S. Gates, Chairman, President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force; members of the Commission; Dr. Martin Anderson, Special Assistant to the President; and Ronald L. Ziegler, Press Secretary to the President.

    Digest of Other White House Announcements

    Following is a listing of items of general interest which were announced in the press but not made public as formal White House press releases during the period covered by this issue. Appointments requiring Senate approval are not included since they appear in the list of nominations submitted to the Senate, below.

    • The report of the President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force was presented to the President by Thomas S. Gates, Chairman, and members of the Commission in a meeting at the White House. The 211-page report has been printed by the Government Printing Office.

  • 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.

  • Decided

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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    The NSC System

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 189. Memorandum of Conversation , Paris, February 21, 1970, 09:40 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 852, For the President’s File—Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. II. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the source text. The meeting took place at 11 Rue Darthe, one of the residences of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Paris. Kissinger sent Nixon this memorandum on February 25 and explained in an attached note that because the conversation was so lengthy, he had “indicated the most important remarks by a line in the margin.” (Ibid.) During the meeting, Walters translated Kissinger’s remarks into French and the North Vietnamese interpreter translated the French into Vietnamese. The process was reversed when Le Duc Tho or Xuan Thuy spoke. (Walters, Silent Missions, p. 515)

    • 190. Memorandum of Conversation , Paris, February 21, 1970, 4:10 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 852, For the President’s File—Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. II. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. The meeting took place at 11 Rue Darthe. Kissinger “indicated the most important remarks by a line in the margin” for Nixon.

    Vol. XLII, Vietnam: The Kissinger-Le Duc Tho Negotiations

    Attempting the Impossible, August 1969-September 1970

    • 2. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, February 21, 1970, 9:40 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 852, For the President’s File—Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. II. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. The meeting took place at 11 Rue Darthé, one of the residences of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Paris. Kissinger sent Nixon this memorandum of conversation on February 25 and explained in an attached note that because the conversation was so lengthy, he had “indicated the most important remarks by a line in the margin.” (Ibid.)

      During the meeting, Major General Vernon Walters, Defense Attaché at the Embassy in Paris, translated Kissinger’s remarks into French, and then the North Vietnamese interpreter translated the French into Vietnamese. The process was reversed when Le Duc Tho or Xuan Thuy spoke. (Walters, Silent Missions, p. 515)

      Kissinger met Le Duc Tho for the first time at this meeting. Although Tho was formally characterized as “Adviser to the North Vietnamese Delegation,” he was actually the North Vietnamese Politburo member in charge of negotiations with the United States. In effect, he was Kissinger’s opposite number in the talks, and Xuan Thuy, titular Chief of Delegation, was subordinate to Le Duc Tho.

    • 3. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, February 21, 1970, 4:10-8 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 852, For the President’s File—Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. II. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. The meeting took place at the North Vietnamese Residence at 11 Rue Darthé. This was Kissinger’s second meeting that day with the North Vietnamese delegation. He broke off the morning session to attend a previously scheduled luncheon with French President Georges Pompidou. In an attached note, Kissinger wrote that he “indicated the most important remarks by a line in the margin” for Nixon.

      This memorandum of conversation is in the form of a verbatim transcript and represents a change from how the two previous meetings—those of August 4, 1969, and the morning of February 21, 1970—were recorded, which were in the form of third person narratives. From this time onward, memoranda of conversations between Kissinger and Le Duc Tho in Paris and later in Hanoi (and Xuan Thuy in Paris on the few occasions he substituted for Le Duc Tho) were in verbatim transcript form.

      A notable aspect of this meeting was Tho’s denunciation of U.S. policy, which Kissinger characterized for the President in an undated memorandum reporting on the meeting as “a long, rather defensive speech in which he rejected my statement that our situation had improved and claimed that in fact it had deteriorated. He even claimed that we had lost the war.” Kissinger added: “His long speech was apparently triggered by my suggesting that our position had improved since my August meeting with Xuan Thuy.” But the bottom line for Kissinger in his report was: “The atmosphere during the meeting was remarkably frank and free of trivia.” Although a number of issues and procedures were discussed, the parties decided nothing of substance but did agree to meet again on March 16. (Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969–July 1970, Document 191)

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

    • 4. Airgram A-84 From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State, February 21, 1970 , February 21, 1970

      After calling for Washington to cease its support of Taiwan, Chinese Chargé de Affaires Lei Yang said China would be open to a visit from an envoy representing President Nixon in order to discuss “questions of fundamental principle.” Ambassador Stoessel noted that the U.S. position was that “the question of the relationship between Taiwan and the mainland of China is one to be resolved by those directly involved.”

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL CHICOM-US. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Kreisberg and Anderson on February 20; cleared by Simons and approved by Stoessel. The meeting was held at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw.

  • 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 of many of these transcripts can be found on the Yale University Library website.

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-3002 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3002-04-17, David Eisenhower accepting medal. 2/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3002-18-25, President Nixon meeting with the Commission on An All-Volunteer Armed Force. 2/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-3003 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3003-04A-12A, Julie Nixon Eisenhower holding the Presidential Seal needlework she embroidered. 2/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Julie Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3003-07A, Portrait of Julie Nixon Eisenhower holding the Presidential Seal needlework she embroidered. 2/21/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

    Roll WHPO-3004 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3004-04A-13A, President Nixon and family at Camp David. 2/21/1970, Camp David, MD Lodge. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3004-12A, Family portrait of President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, and David Eisenhower at Camp David. 2/21/1970, Camp David, MD Lodge. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3004-14A-16A, President Nixon and family with Charles Bebe Rebozo at Camp David. 2/21/1970, Camp David, MD Lodge. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon, C.G. Rebozo, Edward Cox.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3004-20A-11A, Unidentified man by a tree. 2/21/1970, Camp David, MD exterior. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon, C.G. Rebozo, Edward Cox.

  • 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.

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-133
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler and Thomas Gates regarding Presidential Commission on all-volunteer Army. (2/21/1970, Roosevelt Room, White House)

      Runtime: 25:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary, military, conscription, selective service, lottery, laws, Vietnam War, draft reform, draft evasion

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by "MBS"; Recorded by RRN (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-3643
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:42:30

      1. Vice President Agnew comments on the Chicago Seven trials (Chicago 7). Time Code Start: 00:40. Keywords: Yuppies, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, Chicago Seven (Chicago 7), militants, demonstrations, demonstraters, protests, protesters, Republican National Convention, convention, crime, crimes, offences, infractions, criminals, criminality, law break. Network: CBS.

      2. Gates Commission reports on All Volunteer Army. Time Code Start: 02:00. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, enlistment, recruitment, volunteers, conscription, selective service, lottery, laws, Vietnam War, draft reform, draft evasion. Network: CBS.

      3. Gates Commission reports on All Volunteer Army. Time Code Start: 04:06. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, enlistment, recruitment, volunteers, conscription, selective service, lottery, laws, Vietnam War, draft reform, draft evasion. Network: NBC.

      4. Gates Commission reports on All Volunteer Army (Repeated). Time Code Start: 05:06. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, enlistment, recruitment, volunteers, conscription, selective service, lottery, laws, Vietnam War, draft reform, draft evasion. Network: NBC.

      5. Vice President Agnew comments on the Chicago Seven trials (Chicago 7). Time Code Start: 08:19. Keywords: Yuppies, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, Chicago Seven (Chicago 7), militants, demonstrations, demonstraters, protests, protesters, Republican National Convention, convention, crime, crimes, offences, infractions, criminals, criminality, law break. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)