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January 1, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, January 1, 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: Thursday, December 31, 1970

Next Date: Saturday, January 2, 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.

  • 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.

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)
      January 1, 1971

      The President went to Camp David, and Ehrlichman and I also came up, bringing our whole families. It snowed heavily last night. There's about two feet of snow at Camp David now. It's beautiful and very pleasant, although cold. The kids are having a great time. Julie and David didn't come up. Tricia and Eddie are here. The Nixons brought Roger Johnson and Louise up with them.

      The President called in the early afternoon, said he had a good talk with Bob Hope, Billy Graham and a few others on his New Year's telephone calling. Hope told him that he wanted to give him a medal for bravery on the basis of his handling the press at the last press conference. The President was very upset by a report in the sports section today that the Stanford football team was running around their hotel in sandals and shorts, and that their quarterback had enjoyed posing for pictures with the topless dancers from San Francisco. The story was trying to make them out as being good guys because of this, and sneering at Ohio State as squares because they were wearing neckties and blazers. The President said for the first time he was going to root for the Midwest team in the Rose Bowl.

      He was concerned about some press stories that hit us for not inviting Muskie to the Clean Air Bill signing yesterday, and wants Ziegler to really use this as a case in point to hit back on this being a bum rap for us, that—and then shift to the point that the President has been the most gracious, nonpolitical President in history, in terms of his treatment of his present, future and past opponents. Actually, this is true in that Truman never had Eisenhower at the White—never had Hoover at the White House, Eisenhower never had Truman, Johnson and Kennedy never had Nixon; whereas Nixon has had Humphrey, Johnson, Muskie, Teddy Kennedy and everybody to the White House on various occasions. Then we get one little incident like this, and we're stabbed unfairly.

      He also got into the point of what we do with Klein. And I didn't tell him I had a long talk with Herb yesterday and had taken no action. He wants to go ahead on the plan we had originally discussed, which was to have Klein retain his title and post, but no administrative responsibility, and just let him operate as a solo operator. He then rambled on some more about the whole PR business again, getting back to the Evans and Novak column that he had discussed yesterday, but overall was in—seemed to be in a pretty good mood. And I assume will spend the rest of the day and evening watching football games, like most of the rest of the country.

      End of January 1.
    • 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. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Tunisia

    • 150. Telegram 1 From the Embassy in Tunisia to the Department of State, Tunis, January 1, 1971, 1800Z

      The Embassy transmitted a report by a special team of U.S. doctors which had diagnosed President Bourguiba with “involutional melancholia” and, possibly, arteriosclerosis. It then goes on to discuss Bourguiba’s mental state, the possibility for political succession, and potential requests to the U.S. Government for assistance.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 TUN. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. In telegram 6097 from Rabat, December 26, the Embassy had conveyed the urgent request of Prime Minister Nouira for a U.S. psychiatric team to be dispatched to Tunisia to treat Bourguiba. (Ibid.) In telegram 209981 to Rabat, December 29, the Department advised the Embassy that an American internist and psychiatrist would arrive in Tunis on December 31. (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.

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-5417 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5417-03-21, New Years Day snow covers the White House garden and grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5417-10, New Years Day snow covers the White House garden and grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5418 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5418-01-35, New Years Day winter snow covering the grounds of the White House. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5418-17, New Years Day winter snow covering the grounds of the White House. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5418-35, New Years Day winter snow covering the grounds of the White House. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5419 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5419-00-06, White House exterior and its snow-covered grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5419-06, White House exterior and its snow-covered grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5419-07-20, White House illuminated at night. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5419-17, Night view of the White House North Portico and water fountain. Christmas wreaths hanging in all windows, and lit Christmas trees flank the entrance. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5420 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5420-01-28, White House exterior and driveway with winter snow-covered grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5420-21, White House exterior and driveway with winter snow-covered grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5420-24, White House exterior and driveway with winter snow-covered grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5424 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5424-01-04, The West Wing and South Portico side of White House, with winter snow-covered grounds and a snow plowed clear driveway. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing, South Portico.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5424-04, The West Wing and South Portico side of White House, with winter snow-covered grounds and a snow plowed clear driveway. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing, South Portico.

    Roll WHPO-5425 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5425-01, Night view of the White House North Portico and water fountain. Christmas wreaths hang in all windows, and lit Christmas trees flank the entrance. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5425-01-04, Lit North Portico side of the White House, with winter snow-covered grounds. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-5426 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5426-01-03, White House with winter snow-covered grounds during the day. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House grounds.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5426-04, White House with winter snow-covered grounds during the night. 1/1/1971, Washington, D.C. White House grounds.

  • 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-4069
      "Today" Show - "Breakfast with Barbara", Tape I.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 1:30
    • WHCA-4070
      "Today" Show - "Breakfast with Barbara", Tape II.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-4071
      "Beginning of a Decade". Barbara Walters.
      NBC
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-4073
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 00:16:30

      5. Collingwood/Kelly: Secretary of Defense Laird and Army spies. Time Code Start: 10:24. Keywords: military, cabinet, advisors, espionage, spies, operatives, investigations. Network: CBS.

      6. Collingwood: President Nixon's New Year. Time Code Start: 15:12. Keywords: Presidents, holidays, celebrations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)