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January 27, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, January 27, 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: Wednesday, January 26, 1972

Next Date: Friday, January 28, 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.

  • 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)
      Wedn-- Thursday, January 27.

      Back to some more speech follow-up today as the President starts dealing with the various reactions. He specifically wanted to see whether Clifford had asked for a cease-fire, and if so, have Rogers hit him on it, because Clifford's attacking us on the wrong basis, saying that the cease-fire is the hang-up, whereas it's in North Vietnam's nine points, so we have an agreement on it. Also, the Kennedy attack he feels is particularly effective in saying that there should only be one point instead of eight points. He wants to be sure Rogers doesn't back off to that position. In general, he wants to stick to our offer and shift no ground.

      He was furious with The Washington Post editorial, wants Henry to write a letter to The Post rebutting it. Also, said he's taking The Post off the China trip, and that Ron is not to come simpering and arguing about it. They deliberately screwed us, and we're going to have to get back at them, and that Ziegler's not to tell any press people they're going until the President reviews the China list again.

      He wants Scali to get Rogers to crack Clifford on the cease-fire and answer the Kennedy line on the POW's with withdrawal, making the point that the Democratic critics are the party of surrender. We should praise the good Democrats like Nancy, Oden, Jackson, don't do it as a partisan thing, but say they want a Communist South Vietnam. We should drop the subtleties and fight, and keep after it day after day. One line, "peace is too important for politics", and another, "our critics are putting partisanship above peace, and partisanship above POW's". He wants Buchanan to write some of these, get some mileage out of them.

      He called George Meany per our suggestion this afternoon, and apparently had a good chat with him. Meany said he agrees with Stennis, that the President's gone as far as he can on the Vietnam thing, also derided McCloskey as he calls him, for attacking the secrecy, because as Meany knows, secrecy is the only way you can end up with a good bargain.

      President left at about 4:00 for Camp David to spend the night, be back tomorrow.

      End of January 27.
    • 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. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

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

    • 8. Joint United States and Republic of Vietnam Proposal, Washington, January 27, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 107, Country Files, Far East, Vietnam Negotiations, Paris Negotiations, January 25, 1972–January 1973. No classification marking. This proposal was submitted at the plenary session of the Paris Peace Talks. The text of the proposal was released on January 25, the day of President Nixon’s speech (see Document 5). It is also printed in Public Papers: Nixon, 1972, pp. 105–106.

    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

    • 101. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Interagency Working Group on Chile (Meyer) to the Working Group, Washington, January 27, 1972

      Summary: This memorandum outlined a proposal to the Ad Hoc Interagency Working Group on Chile that AID grant $125,000 to the American Institute for Free Labor Development for programs in Chile.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 776, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. VII. Secret. Sent to the Working Group members: Selden, Leddy, Kendall, Hartman, Hewitt, Broe, Carter, and Eaton. A February 9 covering memorandum from Hewitt to Kissinger, stated, “The AIFLD overseas program permits the U.S. to maintain a toe-hold in Chilean labor, and is consistent with the President’s decision to continue people-to-people type programs.” Haig initialed approval for Kissinger on the covering 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.

Audiovisual Holdings

Context (External Sources)