January 17, 1973

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 Key Biscayne, Florida

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.

• Executive Order 11697—Inspection by Department of Agriculture of Income Tax Returns Made Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 of Persons Having Farm Operations
• Executive Order 11696—Excusing Federal Employees in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area From Duty for One-Half Day on Friday, January 19, 1973
• Proclamation 4178—Modifying Proclamation No. 3279 Relating to Imports of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

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, January 17, 1973

Argued

• Colgrove v. Battin
• Frontiero v. Richardson
• Hurtado v. United States
• Morris v. Weinberger

Decided

• Gomez v. Perez
• Goosby v. Osser
• Ham v. South Carolina
• Indiana Employment Security Division v. Burney

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)
• 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 January 17, 1973
• Date search for January 17, 1973

All National Archives Units

• Text search for January 17, 1973
• Date search for January 17, 1973

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 17 January 1973

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. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

America Leaves the War, December 30, 1972-January 27, 1973

• 284. Message From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Gayler) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer), Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, January 17, 1973, 0638Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Chairman, Records of Thomas Moorer, Box 59, CINCPAC General Service Messages, January 1973. Top Secret; Immediate; Specat; Exclusive. Repeated to Meyer, Weyand, Clarey, and Clay.

• 285. Backchannel Message From the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Saigon, January 17, 1973, 1435Z

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 45, Geopolitical File, Vietnam, Chronological File, 1969–75. Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.

• 286. Backchannel Message From the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Saigon, January 17, 1973, 1510Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 860, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIV. Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.

• 287. Minutes of a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, January 17, 1973, 10:26-11:35 a.m.

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 80, National Security Council, Washington Special Actions Group, June 1972–Mar. 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule this meeting took place on January 17. The original is mistakenly dated January 16. (Ibid., Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–1976)

• 288. Message From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Sullivan) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Paris, January 17, 1973, 2059Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 119, Country Files, Far East, Vietnam Negotiations, Ambassador Porter’s File—Paris, June 1972–January 1973. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent via Guay and Scowcroft.

• 289. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), January 17, 1973, 4:50 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 17, Chronological File. No classification marking. Nixon was in Key Biscayne, Florida; Kissinger was in Washington.

• 290. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Bunker), Washington, January 17, 1973, 2345Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 860, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIV. Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.

Vol. XXII, Panama, 1973-1976

Panama, 1973-1976

• 2. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Meyer) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, January 17, 1973

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 33–3 CZ. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Hurwitch on January 15.

Vol. XXXIX, European Security

Opening Negotiations, December 1972-July 1973

• 124. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, January 17, 1973

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 214, Geopolitical File, Soviet Union, Dobrynin, Anatoliy, Background Papers (“Talkers”), Jan. 1972–Feb. 1973. Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information. The memorandum is misdated January 17, 1972. Kissinger wrote at the top of the memorandum: “CSCE—Who knows? How do we handle? Procedurally[,] mandates?” A third handwritten comment by Kissinger is illegible. At the bottom of the first page Kissinger wrote: “MFN—when will it be introduced?”

Vol. E-3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973-1976

Terrorism

• 204. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs (Ehrlichman) to President Nixon, Washington, January 17, 1973

  The memorandum summarized and attached an update from Rogers to Nixon about domestic and international activities to combat terrorism.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism, September 72–July 73, 1 of 1. Confidential. Sent for information. The attached NSC correspondence profile indicates that Nixon noted the memorandum on January 24.

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

United Nations Affairs

• 3. Telegram 140 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, January 17, 1973, 2308Z., January 17, 1973, 2308Z

  Outgoing Ambassador Bush offered his assessment of the 27th United Nations General Assembly and the activities of the United Nations more generally.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 1. Confidential.

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

Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

• 2. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, January 17, 1973

  Summary: Sonnenfeldt discussed French fears of U.S.–USSR collusion and the “neutralization” of Germany.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 679, Country Files, Europe, France Vol. X (Aug 72–Apr 73). Top Secret; Codeword; Sensitive. Sent for information. Attached but not published are Tabs A through D. Kissinger initialed the memorandum.

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-D1211 Photographer: Royer | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1211-, A group of White House Fellows' wives. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. White House Fellows' wives.

Roll WHPO-D1216 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1216-, Head and shoulders shots of Robert Baxter. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. unknown. Robert Baxter.

Roll WHPO-D1218 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1218-, Julie Eisenhower seated with an ABC female news interviewer. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Map Room. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified ABC reporter.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1218-05A, Julie Eisenhower seated with an ABC female news interviewer. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Map Room. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified ABC reporter.

Roll WHPO-D1219 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1219-, Pat Nixon posing for a portrait wearing her 1973 blue Inaugural gown. A painting of ships in a harbor hangs on the wall behind her. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Pat Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1219-08A, Pat Nixon posing for a portrait wearing her 1973 blue Inaugural gown. A painting of ships in a harbor hangs on the wall behind her. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Pat Nixon.

Roll WHPO-D1220 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1220-, Julie Eisenhower standing with children holding their posters illustrating their renditions of the Spirit of 76. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified children and adults.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1220-13, Julie Eisenhower standing with children holding their posters illustrating their renditions of the Spirit of '76. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified children and adults.

Roll WHPO-D1221 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1221-, Various length photos of Pat Nixon in her inaugural gown. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Pat Nixon.

Roll WHPO-D1222 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1222-, Pat Nixon posing for a portrait wearing her 1973 blue Inaugural gown. A painting of ships in a harbor hangs on the wall behind her. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Pat Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D1222-02A, Pat Nixon posing for a portrait wearing her 1973 blue Inaugural gown. A painting of ships in a harbor hangs on the wall behind her. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Pat Nixon.

Roll WHPO-D1223 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D1223-, Pat Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, and others at a party for the departing Coral Schmid. 1/17/1973, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, Coral Schmid, unidentified men and women.

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.

D - First Family

• WHCA-SR-D-041
  Remarks by Julie Nixon Eisenhower to winners of the Inaugural Essay and Picture/Poster Contest. (1/17/1973, State Dining Room, The White House)
  
  Runtime: 2:45
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JMM (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-6003
  Bob Hope Special.
  PBS
  Runtime: 01:30:42
• WHCA-6004
  "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition".
  ABC
  Runtime: 00:29:58
• WHCA-6007
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:36:05
  
  24. Reasoner/Koppel: Ceasefire?. Time Code Start: 52:13. Keywords: Vietnam War, ceasefires. Network: ABC.
  
  25. Reasoner/Bennett: South Vietnamese Airborne demonstration. Time Code Start: 53:59. Keywords: Vietnam War, military, shows, aircraft. Network: ABC.
  
  26. Smith/Donaldson: Watergate trial. Time Code Start: 56:28. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  27. Smith/Dick Shoemaker/Artist Bill Lignante: Pentagon papers trial begins, Anthony Russo and Ellsberg charged with stealing Pentagon Papers. Time Code Start: 58:36. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, classified documents, secrets, Watergate, courts, trials, Vietnam War, Indochina War, bombings, indictments, charges. Network: ABC.
  
  28. Reasoner/Clark: Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) nominee Caspar Weinberger (Office of Management and Budget Director Weinberger (OMB))questioned by the Senate. Time Code Start: 60:41. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, appointments, nominations, investigations. Network: ABC.
  
  29. Smith: Commentary on President Nixon and former President Kennedy (JFK). Time Code Start: 62:53. Keywords: Presidents, John F. Kennedy, biography, history. Network: ABC.
  
  30. Chancellor/Delaney: Peace negotiations. Time Code Start: 64:34. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.
  
  31. Chancellor/Dobyns: Negotiations in Paris; Japanese film of Hanoi; Vietnam. Time Code Start: 67:26. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations, Japanese, movies, films, documentaries. Network: NBC.
  
  32. Nessen: New Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules. Time Code Start: 71:52. Keywords: federal agencies, investigations, regulations. Network: NBC.
  
  33. Brinkley: Commentary on money and government services. Time Code Start: 74:50. Keywords: credit, loans, cash, currency, funding, financial aid. Network: NBC.
  
  34. Chancellor/Stern/Bourgholtzer: Watergate trial testimony by Democratic HQ wiretapper Alfred Baldwin, says James McCord hired him; Ellsberg and Anthony Russo Pentagon Papers trial begins, Ellsberg says law not violated. Time Code Start: 76:13. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, Presidential elections, campaigns, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, investigations, recordings, Democrats. Network: NBC.
  
  35. Chancellor/Mackin: Inaugural merchandising. Time Code Start: 80:09. Keywords: Presidential elections, inaugurations, inaugurals, gifts, souvenirs, gifts, consumer goods. Network: NBC.
  
  36. Cronkite/Rather/Webster: Peace negotiations; Vietnam. Time Code Start: 82:22. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.
  
  37. Cronkite: Three separate anti-war demonstrations to take place on Inauguration Day. Time Code Start: 86:40. Keywords: Presidents, inaugurations, inaugurals, demonstrations, rally, protests, protesters, demonstraters, demonstrators, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: CBS.
  
  38. Cronkite/Graham/Artist Don Juhlin/Schorr: Pentagon Papers trial of Ellsberg and Anthony Russo begins, Leonard Weinglass, David Nissen; Watergate trial testimony by Democratic HQ wiretapper Alfred Baldwin says James McCord hired him. Time Code Start: 87:08. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, Presidential elections, campaigns, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, River Spenser Oliver. Network: CBS.
  
  39. Cronkite/Morton: Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) nominee Caspar Weinberger ( Office of Management and Budget Director Weinberger (OMB)) questioned by Senate. Time Code Start: 90:49. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, appointments, nominations, investigations. Network: CBS.
  
  40. Sevareid: Commentary on word censorship in France. Time Code Start: 92:45. Keywords: France, media, censors. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of January 17, 1973

• AP Images photos from January 17, 1973
• Getty Images photos from January 17, 1973

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.

• January 1973 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• January 17, 1973