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January 16, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, January 16, 1974, 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: Tuesday, January 15, 1974

Next Date: Thursday, January 17, 1974

Schedule and Public 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 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. XXVI, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1974-1976

    First Egyptian-Israeli Disengagement Agreement, January 1974

    • 7. Memorandum of Conversation, Jerusalem, January 16, 1974, 8:30-10:20 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 140, Country Files, Middle East, Secretary Kissinger’s Middle East Trip, January 11–20, 1974, Memcons and Reports. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the Prime Minister’s office. Brackets, with the exception of ones noted, are in the original. All blank underscores are omissions in the original.

    • 8. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon, Washington, January 16, 1974

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 44, HAK Trip Files, January 10–20, 1974, Europe and Mid East State Cables, Memos, Misc. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. A handwritten notation reads: “Back from President.”

    Vol. E-8, Documents on South Asia, 1973-1976

    Indian Ocean Region

    Vol. E-12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973-1976

    Indonesia and the East Timor Crisis

    Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

    Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

    • 47. Telegram 222 From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the Department of State, Brussels, January 16, 1974, 1830Z

      Summary: The Mission reviewed the status of the NATO multilateral burdensharing issue.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 266, Agency Files, NATO Jan–May 31, 1974, Vol. XVII (2 of 2). Confidential; Nodis. In telegram 12584 to the Mission to NATO, January 19, the Department approved the proposal to discuss guidelines on definition and criteria for military procurement with the NATO Economic Directorate and agreed with the suggestion of the need for Congressional consultations. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, 1974)

    United Kingdom, 1973-1976

    Federal Republic of Germany, 1973-1976

    • 276. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon, Washington, January 16, 1974

      Summary: Scowcroft reported the state of the U.S.–FRG bilateral offset negotiations.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 754, Presidential Correspondence, Germany, Willy Brandt 1972 (1 of 3). Confidential. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. Attached but not published is the letter to Brandt, which Nixon signed. In his reply to Nixon, Brandt said that FRG negotiators, who would be ready to resume talks by mid-February, would “be guided by the view that the undiminished presence of United States forces in Europe is of overriding importance to the security of our two countries and the alliance.” He also suggested that “since the conditions of all our offset agreements as laid down by NATO in 1957, i.e. serious balance of payments difficulties on the party of a stationing country, no longer seem to exist, allowance should be made for this fact in the negotiations.” (Letter from Von Staden to Nixon, January 29; ibid., NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 61, Country Files, Europe, General, German Exchange (1 of 3))

  • 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-E2083 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2083-02A-08A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Kenneth Cole, Executive Director of the Domestic Council, to discuss pending legislation on domestic affairs. 1/16/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Kenneth R. Cole.

    Roll WHPO-E2084 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2084-02-04, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office with Anthony D. Marshall, the U. S. Ambassador to Kenya. 1/16/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon and Anthony D. Marshall.

    Roll WHPO-E2085 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2085-01A-04A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Kenneth Cole, Executive Director of the Domestic Council, to review pending legislation on domestic affairs. 1/16/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Kenneth R. Cole.

  • 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.

    K - Informal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-K-135
      Photo opportunity with Roy Ash-Oval Office/Roy Ash. (1/16/1974)

      Runtime: 2:00

      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-445
      Press briefing for by Dr. Henry Ramirez and Vincent P. Barabba on the latest account by the Census Bureau on the nation's Spanish-speaking people. (1/16/1974, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 0:25:24

      Keywords: Briefings, press conferences, interviews, media, Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish Speaking People (CCOSSP).

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by E. Doss (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original. Technical notes: 1 hour, 11 minutes and 23 seconds of silence at end of recording removed from access copies.
    • WHCA-SR-S-446
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (1/16/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 46:00:00

      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-6746
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:32:11

      38. Smith/Schoumacher/Jarriel: White House tapes, reaction to tapes. Time Code Start: 86:03. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      39. Smith/Clark: Capitol Hill's reaction to White House tapes. Time Code Start: 88:53. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      40. Smith: Vice President Gerald Ford reaction to tape disclosure. Time Code Start: 90:35. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, hearings, burglary, impeachment, resignations, investigations, conspiracy, coverups. Network: ABC.

      41. Smith: Pentagon statement on Secretary of State Kissinger wire tapes (wire taps ?). Time Code Start: 91:10. Keywords: military, leaders, interviews, cabinet, advisors, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
    • WHCA-6747
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS

      1. Smith/Peterson/Geer: Energy crisis, fuel allocations. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: energy crisis, oil crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, allocations. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Koppel: Secretary of State Kissinger in the Middle East. Time Code Start: 05:04. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith: Commentary on the White House tapes. Time Code Start: 07:02. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      4. Chancellor/Stern: White House tapes. Time Code Start: 08:50. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      5. Chancellor/Brokaw: Reaction at the White House to the tapes. Time Code Start: 11:24. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      6. Chancellor: Secretary of State Kissinger and the Middle East with film. Time Code Start: 12:53. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor/Valeriani: Report on the Middle East. Time Code Start: 13:54. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war. Network: NBC.

      8. Cronkite/Graham: White House tapes. Time Code Start: 14:58. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      9. Cronkite/Morton/Mudd: Reaction to the White House tapes, Senate's reaction to tapes. Time Code Start: 17:03. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      10. Cronkite/Shaw: Is there an energy crisis and how was it caused?. Time Code Start: 19:29. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

      11. Cronkite/Benton: Gas rationing with Sawhil. Time Code Start: 23:08. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

      12. Cronkite/Kalb: Secretary of State Kissinger and the Middle East. Time Code Start: 24:53. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

      13. Cronkite: Sevareid analysis on the energy crisis. Time Code Start: 26:17. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)