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January 24, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, January 24, 1972, 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: Sunday, January 23, 1972

Next Date: Tuesday, January 25, 1972

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.

    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.

  • 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)
      Monday, January 24.

      Budget message day. President also released a statement calling on Congress to set a ceiling, which stirred things up a bit. He met with Rizzo, the Mayor of Philadelphia, who was in to see Ehrlichman, and President had John bring him in. Rizzo flatly informed the President he would back him, would announce at any time he wanted him to, and felt he could deliver Pennsylvania, which the President also feels, so this was good news. President told him not to announce now, they'll just play the Democrats along for the time being, wait till after their convention, and then come out for Nixon, which is the plan.

      We had quite a discussion with Henry on the PR plan for the Vietnam speech tomorrow night. He wants to be sure we, we carry out a very comprehensive plan, that we have Henry avoid babbling to a few selected columnists, and leaving out the important people, so we laid out a pretty good coverage program that should work pretty well in getting everybody informed and mobilized.

      Ehrlichman came up with a startling thing as a result of Kissinger's breakfast with Laird this morning, which was that Laird-- or I guess the breakfast was over the weekend. Laird told Henry that the White House had asked for his security jacket, but Laird assured him that he would protect him and not send it over to us. Very curious since nobody at the White House has asked for it and in any event, we wouldn't ask Laird, who doesn't have it.

      President had a long talk with Flanigan this afternoon regarding his new assignment, got that pretty well worked out. I think Pete's going to be happy with it although not overjoyed, certainly.

      End of January 24.
    • 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. III, Foreign Economic Policy; International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    High-Level Meetings; Miscellaneous Issues

    • 40. Memorandum for the President’s File, Washington, January 24, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 87, Memoranda for the President, December 12, 1971–February 20, 1972. Secret. Drafted by Kissinger.

    Vol. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

    Before the Easter Offensive, January 20-March 29, 1972

    • 4. Minutes of a Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, January 24, 1972, 4:25-5:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 158, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, Jan–Feb 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. All brackets are in the original.

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China, October 1971-February 1972

    • 186. Message From the Government of the United States to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Washington, January 24, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File—China Trip, China Exchanges. No classification marking. This message, a 3-page “Republic of Vietnam and United States Proposal for a Negotiated Settlement of the Indochina Conflict,” and information about communication, aircraft, and other preparations for the President’s February 1972 trip were sent to Paris on January 24, under a covering letter from Haig to Walters. (Ibid.) The 3-page document was replaced with a later version, which was sent at 2 a.m. on January 25 under a covering memorandum from Haig to Walters. (Ibid.) See also Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–13, Documents 80 and 81.

    Vol. XXVIII, Southern Africa

    Regional Issues

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    Narrowing the Issues, October 19, 1971-April 18, 1972

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    U.S. Relations with India and Pakistan, 1972

    • 214. Letter From the Pakistani Ambassador (Raza) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, January 24, 1972

      Raza transmitted a letter to Nixon from Pakistani President Bhutto in which Bhutto asked the United States to underwrite the sale of rice by Pakistan to what he continued to refer to as East Pakistan.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 760, Presidential Correspondence File, Pakistan, President Bhutto. Most Immediate. The attached letter is undated and bears an unsigned typed signature. Kissinger’s handwritten notation on Raza’s letter reads: “Al–Make sure this receives urgent attention.” Haig, in turn, wrote on the letter: “Saunders Rush.” The text of Bhutto’s letter was transmitted to Islamabad on January 29 in telegram 16993. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, INCO–RICE 17 BANGLA DESH–US)

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Guatemala

    • 361. Telegram 380 From the Embassy in Guatemala to the Department of State, January 24, 1972, 2310Z., January 24, 1972, 2310Z

      In a conversation with Ambassador Bowdler, President Arana affirmed that he planned to “continue pressure against extremists of the left and right.”

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 GUAT. Confidential; Limdis. In Airgram A–21 from Guatemala City, February 11, the Embassy reported that Army counter-guerrilla actions were unsuccessful in the face of FAR attacks on Government personnel. (Ibid., POL 23 GUAT)

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Haiti

    • 405. Intelligence Note From the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, RARN–2, Washington, January 24, 1972., Washington, January 24, 1972

      The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) provided an assessment of President Jean-Claude Duvalier’s new government and concluded that closer relations with the United States indicated “a turn away from the old attitudes of suspicion and self-isolation.”

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 HAI. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. Drafted on January 20 in INR/American Republics by Godfrey and Pace.

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Nicaragua

    • 512. Memorandum of Conversation, Puerto Somoza, January 24, 1972., Puerto Somoza, January 24, 1972

      During an informal two-hour meeting with Ambassador Shelton, President Somoza discussed his plans for governing jointly with Conservative Party leader Fernando Agüero and the future of two-party politics in Nicaragua.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 NIC. Confidential. Drafted by Hines. A copy was sent to ARA/CEN, INR/RAR, CIA/OCI, CIA/BR, and the Embassy in Managua.

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

    Vol. E-16, Documents on Chile, 1969-1973

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

  • 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

Context (External Sources)