February 24, 1971

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.

• Special Message to the Congress on Consumer Protection.
• Executive Order 11583—Office of Consumer Affairs

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 24, 1971

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

• Senate: February 24, 1971
• Extensions of Remarks: February 24, 1971

Argued

• Askew v. Hargrave
• California Department of Human Resources Development v. Java
• Gainesville Utilities Department v. Florida Power Corporation

Decided

• Harris v. New York
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO v. Hardeman
• Monitor Patriot Company v. Roy
• Ocala Star-Banner Company v. Damron
• Ramsey v. United Mine Workers of America
• Relford v. Commandant, U. S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth
• Time, Inc. v. Pape
• United States v. Weller
• Zenith Radio Corporation v. Hazeltine Research, Inc.

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.

• Annotated News Summaries, Box 30, News Summaries - February 1971 [1 of 2] [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. In addition to the individual document(s) listed below, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]
  • [2/24/71]
• Annotated News Summaries, Box 30, News Summaries - February 1971 [2 of 2]
  • [2/24/71]
  • February 24, 1971
• President's Daily Schedule, Box 101, [President's Daily Schedule, Jan.-Feb. 1971] [3 of 3]
  • The President's Schedule, Wednesday - February 24, 1971

President's Personal File

The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• President's Speech File
  • Box 65, [February 24, 1971: Television Spot on Foreign Policy Message]

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)
  Wednesday, February 24th. Henry was in this morning with great concern about the military situation in Laos. He will not admit publicly that anything's wrong, but he wanted the President to know that he was very much concerned that the military reports were not giving us the straight poop.
  
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  DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
  Audio Cassette 5, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 1 [AC-5(A) Sel 1]
  Duration: 24 seconds
  
  For example, they've been showing route 9 as cut off for that last 10 days, and yet Henry's reading today of the sensor reports would indicate that route 9 is not cut off and there is heavy truck traffic on it. The problem is Henry can't tell whether the truck traffic might not be above the cutoff point.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  In any event, he proposed to the President that he send General Haig out to check up on the whole thing on the scene. He kept making the case over and over that military history shows that the real problem in wars is that military commanders tend to become locked into, and infatuated with, their basic original plans and refuse to change them even when the situation so dictates, and that that's one of the major reasons for military defeats. He's afraid that it's possible at least, that this might be the case with Abrams at this point, and he at least wants to check it out. The President's reaction was noncommittal and pensive while Henry was in there. After Henry left, he talked about it some, and obviously was concerned and felt there might be merit to it, although he deplored Henry's constant repetition and citing of the military history to try and prove his point. He did decide to have Vogt in to give him a personal briefing, so he'd get a reading on the thing. But, he got back to Henry's sensitivities, because the President didn't want Henry to sit in the briefing. As it happened, it didn't work out to set it up, so it all worked, turned out okay anyway.
  
  Another Kissinger question was a report of his meeting last night with Paul Warnke, at which Warnke suggested that he, Henry, meet with Muskie. Henry obviously wanted to do so, but the President ruled it out hard and fast, so I don't think there'll be any further thought of that.
  
  The Kissinger-Rogers problem continues, and the President spent quite a little time talking about it. We didn't have any schedule for him today, and so he had a lot of time, although he used most of it in the afternoon to work on the finalizing of the State of the Union speech, or State of the World speech. But the morning was basically clear and covered with, filled with this general kind of talk. He keeps asking me what plans I have for dealing with it, and of course, I don't have any. I think that we've got to push to some kind of confrontation to try to make both men realize they're performing childishly and to the detriment of their country, as well as themselves. But I'm not sure we can make any progress by doing that. He, the President wanted me to have a meeting with some of our key political and right-wing types to try to develop a line and a plan of strategy for how to handle the Democratic attacks on the war, which are now becoming strong and very partisan. We've got an opportunity, because the various Democrats have taken different positions: Muskie calling for a pull out this year; the Democratic Policy Committee calling for a pull out by 1973; Jackson taking a hard line; Harriman not going quite as far out as Muskie. The President's point is that we ought to be able to posture ourselves for maximum gain on this, and exploit the differences within the Democratic Party. The question is whether we accept or jump on the Democratic Committee's position, or maybe divide and hit it both ways. There's one huge flaw in it, on the basis that they want to get everything out, including the POW's, but they overlooked the problem of how we get the POW's out; and there's obviously no way we can.
  
  End of, well let's see, we got into a semi-flap today as the President was scheduled at midday to do a quick drop-by for the regional office guys that are in for a briefing session, and, he had, he agreed to do that. Then they scheduled a meeting with the top black leadership in the Roosevelt Room for a briefing and put the heat on for the President to attend that on the basis that they would offend them if he didn't, which of course was true; so he did it. Then late today, MacGregor hit me with a similar kind of thing where he was having a group of Congressional leaders in tomorrow and wanted to trap the President into doing them too. Somehow, we've got to get control of this whole deal, and I don't see a way to do it yet.
  
  End of February 24th.
• 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

• Text search for February 24, 1971
• Date search for February 24, 1971

All National Archives Units

• Text search for February 24, 1971
• Date search for February 24, 1971

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 24 February 1971

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. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

Thailand

• 108. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Commanding General of the U.S. Air Force in Thailand (Evans), Bangkok, February 24, 1971, 1121Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, ISP/P Files: Lot 72 D 504. Top Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to the Department of State, CINCPAC, and SAC.

• 109. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State, Bangkok, February 24, 1971, 1205Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, AID (US) 15–8 INDON. Secret; Priority.

Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

• 209. Memorandum From Arnold Nachmanoff of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, February 24, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. III. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent for action. Attached to a February 26 note from Nachmanoff to Kissinger that reads, “Press reports indicate that President Allende announced last night—on nationwide T.V.—that he had invited the USS Enterprise to visit Chile so that its crew could see that Chile is engaged in authentic democracy. He also issued a stern warning against any demonstrations against the ship’s visit. It appears that we have been had. After Allende’s statement, a turndown of the visit now would be taken as a pretty deliberate snub. It would also be played up in the press as U.S. (read White House) unwillingness to allow our sailors to see the ‘truth’ about Chile.” (Ibid.)

Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

The Horn

• 310. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, February 24, 1971

  In a conversation with Newsom, Somali Ambassador Addou reported that Somalia had virtually lost its independence to the Soviet Union. General Siad remained suspicious of the United States, but Addou urged keeping communications open.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 2 Somali. Secret.

Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

Libya

• 71. Telegram 373 From the Embassy in Libya to the Department of State, Tripoli, February 24, 1971, 1147Z

  Prime Minister Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi assured the Ambassador that there were no outstanding issues between Libya and the United States apart from the Arab-Israel dispute.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 LIBYA. Secret; Priority; Exdis. It was repeated to Benghazi. In the referenced telegram 4025 to Tripoli, January 9, the Department had advised that the “consensus is that fulfillment [of the F–5] contract difficult justify in terms current Libyan posture toward Middle East peace initiative, their present attitude toward US and US interests in Libya, and generally poor prospects for any marked improvement.” Paragraph 3 dealt with expulsions of American citizens from Libya and paragraph 4 with the petroleum negotiations. (Ibid., DEF 12–5 LIBYA) In telegram 185 from Tripoli, January 26, Palmer discussed the F–5s with MUFA Undersecretary Kikhya. (Ibid.) In a subsequent comment, telegram 381 from Tripoli, February 24, Palmer wrote that there was “nothing new” in Qadhafi’s emphasis on the U.S.-Israeli relationship, but that he was struck by the Libyan leader’s commitment to non-alignment, his pragmatism, and the cordiality of his reception. (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.

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

• 457-1; 10:19 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Knauer, Virginia H.; Engman, Lewis A.; Hanford, Elizabeth; White House photographer; Butterfield, Alexander P.
• 457-2; Unknown between 11:35 a.m. & 11:38 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
• 457-3; Unknown between 11:35 a.m. & 11:38 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Butterfield, Alexander P.
• 457-4; Unknown between 11:55 a.m. & 12:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Hardin, Clifford M.; Bull, Stephen B.
• 457-5; 12:34 p.m. - 1:24 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); White House operator; Kissinger, Henry A.
• 457-6; 1:24 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 457-7; Unknown between 12:01 p.m. & 12:19 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 457-8; Unknown between 12:19 p.m. & 12:35 p.m.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 457-9; Unknown between 12:35 p.m. & 12:43 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]

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-5736 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5736-, Cindy Shumaker of Pat Nixon's Press office staff, and an unidentified man pose for portraits outside the White House. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Diplomatic Entrance stairs. Cindy Shumaker, unidentified man.

Roll WHPO-5737 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5737-, Robert Finch with unidentified men. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Robert Finch, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-5738 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5738-, President Nixon signing papers while Virginia Knauer and two staff members stand by. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Virginia Knauer, staff members.
• Frame(s): WHPO-5738-10A, President Nixon signing papers while Virginia Knauer and two staff members stand by. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Virginia Knauer, staff members.

Roll WHPO-5739 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-5739-, Judy Agnew at a tea for governors' wives. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Judy Agnew, governors' wives, aides.

Roll WHPO-5741 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5741-, Pat Nixon greeting second grade students from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Anacostia. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon, school children, teachers.

Roll WHPO-5742 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-5742-, Pat Nixon greeting second grade students from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Anacostia. 2/24/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon, school children, teachers.

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.

E - Secretary of Defense Briefings

• WHCA-SR-E-024
  Press conference by Sec. Def. Melvin Laird and Lt. General Vogt. (2/24/1971, Pentagon)
  
  Runtime: 1:25:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by OPI; Recorded by BAC (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

• WHCA-SR-G-081
  Press briefing by Virginia Knauer and Secretary of HEW Elliot Richardson, with Gerald Warren. (2/24/1971, Press Center)
  
  Runtime: 40:00:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by BAC (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

H - White House Staff Member Recordings

• WHCA-SR-H-346
  Press briefing by Virginia Knauer, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Elliot Richardson, and Gerald Warren. (2/24/1971, Press Center, White House)
  
  Runtime: 40:00:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by BAC (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-H-347
  Press briefing by Henry Kissinger. (2/24/1971, Roosevelt Room, White House)
  
  Runtime: 1:20:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JMC (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-H-348
  Press briefing by Henry Kissinger. (2/24/1971, East Room, White House)
  
  Runtime: 41:45:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JAD (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-710231
  Remarks by President Nixon in a staff meeting. (2/24/1971)
  
  Runtime: 12:06
  
  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-4193
  "Book Beat" with guest Ramsay Clark.
  WTOP
  Runtime: 00:29:15
• WHCA-4195
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:31:19
  
  29. Reasoner/Giggins/Smith/Scali: Secretary of Defense Laird (Laird). Time Code Start: 77:30. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  30. Reasoner/Jarriel: Bob Hope and Up With People at the White House. Time Code Start: 82:10. Keywords: Comedian, actor, actors, celebrities, musicians, music, humor, comedy, comedians, shows, music, performance. Network: ABC.
  
  31. Smith: Commentary on wage freeze. Time Code Start: 84:30. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, employment, employees, salaries, salary, payments, freezes, controls. Network: ABC.
  
  32. Chancellor/Brady: Secretary of Defense Laird (Laird). Time Code Start: 86:10. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
• WHCA-4196
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  1. Chancellor/Briggs: Secretary of Transportation Volpe on the wage price issue and construction. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, speeches, jobs, unemployment, labor, buildings, housing, wages, costs. Network: NBC.
  
  2. Perkins: National welfare rights organization. Time Code Start: 02:30. Keywords: Family Assistance Programs, government aid, financial aid, health and welfare assistance, financial aid, organizations. Network: NBC.
  
  3. Chancellor: Laos war hero. Time Code Start: 06:40. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, heroes. Network: NBC.
  
  4. Cronkite/Scheiffer: Secretary of Defense Laird (Laird). Time Code Start: 09:43. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  5. Cronkite: Consumer and welfare legislation. Time Code Start: 14:08. Keywords: bills, laws, Family Assistance Programs, government aid, financial aid, health and welfare assistance, financial aid. Network: CBS.
• WHCA-4211
  Excerpts From the "NBC Nightly News" Indochina War Coverage, Tape I (Weekly News Summary).
  NBC
  
  59. Chancellor: Stiff opposition stalls invasion; film of Pentagon news briefing; Secretary of Defense Laird claims success. Time Code Start: 66:54. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, military, Cambodia, Vietnam War, United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces. Network: NBC.
  
  60. Brady: Air war continues but ground war stalled at Quang Tri. Time Code Start: 69:40. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings, aircraft, military, weapons. Network: NBC.
  
  61. Newman: Another supply route closed. Time Code Start: 71:30. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
• WHCA-4246
  NBC News Excerpts: Phil Brady's Indochina Reports [Weekly News Summary]. Phil Brady.
  NBC
  Runtime: 00:34:02
  
  3. Brady: Report from Quang Tri, South Vietnam; Laos air war continues while ground war is stalled. Time Code Start: 05:25. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War, bombings, aircraft, military, weapons. Network: NBC.

• New York Times of February 24, 1971

• AP Images photos from February 24, 1971
• Getty Images photos from February 24, 1971

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 1971 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• February 24, 1971