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January 29, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, January 29, 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, January 28, 1971

Next Date: Saturday, January 30, 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.

  • The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

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)
      Friday, January 29th. The President made the mistake of following his daily Cabinet call routine, and Romney was the one for today, or last night, I'm not sure which. In any event, he got into a long harangue about not understanding his assignment as the lead man for the Cabinet on the State of the Union follow-up. He said that things weren't working out the way Ehrlichman and Haldeman had discussed it with him. The problem is, I, at least never discussed it with him at all. He doesn't know what he's supposed to be doing, and the President wants us to really put the pressure on him not to get bogged down in details, but rather to spend his time charging up the Cabinet and getting out in public doing something. The President wanted to be sure that that was followed up, so we could get him out of his hair, and wanted to use the example of how the President's not bogged down and the advice he gave Dole on the same subject.

      Buchanan, the Vice President, Kissinger, and I were called into the President's office after the few morning schedule items that he had, and before we departed for the Virgin Islands. And the President first reviewed or had Henry review the plan for the Laotian move and get all the things set on that. Henry's still not sure we're going ahead with that step, but they're working on the plan for it in any event. He then, the President, said he wanted to get a meeting either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning with the...

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 3, Side B, Withdrawn Item Number 15 [AC-3(B) Sel 8]
      Duration: 21 seconds

      …usual attack group—plus Connally, Mitchell, and the Vice President to discuss the plan in final form before they get into it at NSC. No, correction, he wanted to discuss it with Mitchell, the Vice President, and Connally before he discussed it with the attack group, so that he was sure he had them lined up to back him up.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      He then got into the purpose of the meeting with Buchanan, et al., which was that he feels the Vice President should go for a big play on live television to comment on the recent press coverage of Southeast Asia. He feels he should speak more in sorrow than in anger, and should not be defensive re Cambodia. He should work from Bill Rogers's testimony and make the points that the press attacks are unfair, irrelevant, and inaccurate as well as conflicting; that we would think that they were writing about the previous Administration. They ignored the total difference between what we're doing and what LBJ was doing in Vietnam. Make the point that we've kept every promise we've made and cite the examples of the sanctuaries and no ground or air support in the sanctuaries and so forth. But really dramatize this, hitting the time after time that the President has made these promises on television. Then make the point that we will stay within the legislative requirements that we haven't and will not use ground troops; that we have and will use air support in all aspects. And if it's necessary, to prevent re-establishment of the sanctuaries and to protect American lives. The President made the point that we need to do this, make this speech to prepare the way for doing more. Then he wants him to say, that in reference to Muskie but not naming him, that one of the candidates in the Democratic Party has said that the President showed an utter disregard in his move in Cambodia, but that anyone who would deny the President the right to use air power to protect American lives, to protect American troops, shows an utter disregard for American lives. Then make the point that troops are down, casualties are down, and this can continue only if the Nixon Doctrine continues to be applied. Then make the point that the press has a vested interest in seeing us fail because they predicted that we'd fail. He doesn't want them to use any personalities or names. He feels that tone is very important, and everyone agreed that there is a need to soften the press in advance of the stepped up activity next week, which will drive them right up the wall.

      On the plane en route to the Virgin Islands, he had me up for a couple of hours covering an enormous range of odds and ends. He wants to go ahead with the Fortune editors meeting, he wanted a wire sent to Volpe to charge him up for the Republican meeting tomorrow, then he decided to call him instead from the plane, which he did, and talked to his secretary since John wasn't available. He had some ideas for Ziegler on lines to get out about the importance of the President doing non-routine things, like his talk this morning at the Morton swearing in, and last night to the new Congressmen. The decision to send a cable to the news summary group, some concern about follow-up on the activity of the President—especially in the period since before the trip to Europe. The need to keep the heat on the "New American Revolution", and the "Open Door". An idea of having a State Dinner for Prince Rainier and Grace if the Kennedys didn't do one. A wire to George Allen on his trade that was announced today in conjunction with the football drafts. The decision to make the Italian dinner white tie, and be sure the guest list includes all the Italians. Some more advice to Buchanan on the speech content. A decision that if the Dow Jones reaches 900, he'll go to New York drop by his old law office, and then have lunch at the Stock Exchange. Some more ideas of the mailing of the NAM folder. A question as to whether we should bring Kilpatrick in as the house conservative, and also let him write the definitive book. A general discussion of the political organizational structure, and how Mitchell was doing on that. Then he got into reading some sections from the Disraeli book he's reading now, which made some fascinating points regarding Disraeli's recognition of the importance of form rather than substance.

      The only activity after we got into the Virgin Islands was a call from Buchanan, who's all distressed about the TV news tonight that reported the appearance of a major buildup on the Laotian border of ARVN troops ready for an attack. Apparently, this arose out of Rogers's news conference and some observation of troop activity along the border. Pat felt we should rush to the President with this, but of course we didn't. The President has gone for a swim and holed up in his cottage here and appears to be very pleased with the setup so far.

      End of January 29th.
    • 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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Special Meetings of the Security Council

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

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

    Guyana

    • 371. Telegram 106 From the Embassy in Guyana to the Department of State, January 29, 1971, 1430Z., January 29, 1971, 1430Z

      The success of the negotiations between Prime Minister Burnham and the aluminum companies depended on whether the companies would accept the Government of Guyana having majority ownership and control of the bauxite industry.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Guyana, Vol 1. Secret. A stamped notation on the telegram indicates that it was received in the White House Situation Room at 9:10 on January 30.

    Haiti

    • 398. Telegram 96 From the Embassy in Haiti to the Department of State, January 29, 1971, 1955Z., January 29, 1971, 1955Z

      The Embassy reported the rumor that President Duvalier planned to step down and cede power to his son Jean-Claude. Duvalier was reputedly suffering from prostate cancer.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Haiti, Vol. I. Confidential. Repeated to Santo Domingo. In Intelligence Information Cable, TDCS 314/00796–71, January 29, CIA reported that Duvalier planned to travel to Europe for surgery after installing his son as President. (Ibid.)

    Nicaragua

    • 501. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, January 29, 1971., Washington, January 29, 1971

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger forwarded a report from Secretary of Commerce Stans, regarding his December 8–10, 1970, visit to Nicaragua. Kissinger’s memorandum lists requests made by President Somoza.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 790, Country Files, Latin America, Nicaragua, Vol. I (1969–1974). Confidential. Sent for action. Attached but not published are Tabs A and B. Tab A was a January 30 letter of appreciation to Secretary Stans, which Nixon signed, and Tab B was Secretary’s Stans’ December 18, 1970 report on his visit to Nicaragua.

    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

    • 48. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Santiago, January 29, 1971, 2256Z

      Summary: In this message, Korry reported on the criticism of the Allende administration by U.S. businessmen in Chile and discussed the implications that the reports of his departure from his ambassadorship had had on U.S.-Chilean relations.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 423, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, 1971. Secret; Exclusively Eyes Only. A handwritten notation on the first page by Haig reads, “Arnie, in envelope.” Underneath Haig’s notation, “Xerox copy sent—n.m.” is written in an unknown hand.

  • 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-5557 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5557-, President Nixon departing the White House accompanied by aides. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. President Nixon, Kissinger, aides.

    Roll WHPO-5558 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5558-, Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart swearing in Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton with President Nixon, Vice President Agnew and others in attendance. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Justice Potter Stewart, Rogers Morton, Vice President Spiro Agnew, William Rogers family members, unidentified guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5558-05, Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart swearing in Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton with President Nixon, Vice President Agnew and others in attendance. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Justice Potter Stewart, Rogers Morton, Vice President Spiro Agnew, William Rogers family members, unidentified guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5558-23, Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart swearing in Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton with President Nixon, Vice President Agnew and others in attendance. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Justice Potter Stewart, Rogers Morton, Vice President Spiro Agnew, William Rogers family members, unidentified guests.

    Roll WHPO-5559 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5559-, President Nixon signing the Budget. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Mark Alger, Dwight Ink, Velma Baldwin, Roger Jones,James Baries, Arthur Kallen, Charles Benton, Charles Kraus, Thomas Berry, Jack Carlson, Joseph Laitin, Raymond Clark, Philip Langehough, Donald Crabill, Hugh Loweth, Samuel Cohn, Harry C. McKittrick, Emerson Elliot, Dale McOmber, Carey Modlin, James Frey, William Morrill, William Gifford, Richard, Nathan, Walter Haase, Paul O'Neill, Howard Heun, Charles Perry, Cora R. Holland, Donald Rice, Ernestine C. Hersey, Eric Robinson, Wilfred Rommel, James Schlesinger, Julius Shiskin, David Sitrin, Thomas Stoel, Edward Strait, William Taft, David Taylor, John Young, Toni Exchepare.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5559-10, President Nixon signing the Budget. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Mark Alger, Dwight Ink, Velma Baldwin, Roger Jones, James Baries, Arthur Kallen, Charles Benton, Charles Kraus, Thomas Berry, Jack Carlson, Joseph Laitin, Raymond Clark, Philip Langehough, Donald Crabill, Hugh Loweth, Samuel Cohn, Harry C. McKittrick, Emerson Elliot, Dale McOmber, Carey Modlin, James Frey, William Morrill, William Gifford, Richard, Nathan, Walter Haase, Paul O'Neill, Howard Heun, Charles Perry, Cora R. Holland, Donald Rice, Ernestine C. Hersey, Eric Robinson, Wilfred Rommel, James Schlesinger, Julius Shiskin, David Sitrin, Thomas Stoel, Edward Strait, William Taft, David Taylor, John Young, Toni Exchepare.

    Roll WHPO-5560 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5560-01-06, President Nixon at a breakfast for Senate and House Republicans. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. State Dining Room. President Nixon, Kissinger, Shultz, Ehrlichman, Congressmen.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5560-10-22, President Nixon signing the Budget. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Shultz, officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5560-23-30, Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart swearing in Rogers Morton as Secretary of the Interior. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room, Oval Office. President Nixon, Justice Potter Stewart, Rogers Morton, Morton family members, Agnew, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5560-31-35, President Nixon standing with Rogers Morton and his family. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room, Oval Office. President Nixon, Justice Potter Stewart, Rogers Morton, Morton family members, Agnew, guests.

    Roll WHPO-5561 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5561-01A-06A, President Nixon at a breakfast for Senate and House Republicans. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. State Dining Room. President Nixon, Gerald Ford, Hugh Scott, Congressmen.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5561-09A, President Nixon signing the Budget. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Mark Alger, Dwight Ink, Velma Baldwin, Roger Jones, James Baries, Arthur Kallen, Charles Benton, Charles Kraus, Thomas Berry, Jack Carlson, Joseph Laitin, Raymond Clark, Philip Langehough, Donald Crabill, Hugh Loweth, Samuel Cohn, Harry C. McKittrick, Emerson Elliot, Dale McOmber, Carey Modlin, James Frey, William Morrill, William Gifford, Richard, Nathan, Walter Haase, Paul O'Neill, Howard Heun, Charles Perry, Cora R. Holland, Donald Rice, Ernestine C. Hersey, Eric Robinson, Wilfred Rommel, James Schlesinger, Julius Shiskin, David Sitrin, Thomas Stoel, Edward Strait, William Taft, David Taylor, John Young, Toni Exchepare.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5561-09A-11A, President Nixon signing the Budget. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Mark Alger, Dwight Ink, Velma Baldwin, Roger Jones, James Baries, Arthur Kallen, Charles Benton, Charles Kraus, Thomas Berry, Jack Carlson, Joseph Laitin, Raymond Clark, Philip Langehough, Donald Crabill, Hugh Loweth, Samuel Cohn, Harry C. McKittrick, Emerson Elliot, Dale McOmber, Carey Modlin, James Frey, William Morrill, William Gifford, Richard, Nathan, Walter Haase, Paul O'Neill, Howard Heun, Charles Perry, Cora R. Holland, Donald Rice, Ernestine C. Hersey, Eric Robinson, Wilfred Rommel, James Schlesinger, Julius Shiskin, David Sitrin, Thomas Stoel, Edward Strait, William Taft, David Taylor, John Young, Toni Exchepare.

    Roll WHPO-5562 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5562-, Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart swearing in Rogers Morton as Secretary of the Interior with President Nixon in attendance. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Justice Potter Stewart, Agnew, Rogers Morton, Morton family members, guests.

    Roll WHPO-5563 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5563-, President Nixon and Rogers Morton. 1/29/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Rogers Morton, Morton family members.

    Roll WHPO-5569 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5569-03-25, President Nixon and Pat Nixon being greeted upon arrival in St. Croix. 1/29/1971, U.S. Virgin Islands St. Croix, airport. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, officials, aides, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5569-26-34, Aerial views of Caneel Bay, St. Johns in the Virgin Islands. 1/29/1971, U.S. Virgin Islands St. Johns, Caneel Bay.

    Roll WHPO-5570 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5570-, Aerial view of Caneel Bay in the Virgin Islands. 1/29/1971, St. Johns, U.S. Virgin Islands Caneel Bay.

  • 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.

    F - Secretary of State Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-F-012
      Press conference by Sec. Rogers. (1/29/1971, State Department)

      Runtime: 14:36

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by State Department; Recorded by JMC (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-710114
      Swearing-in of RM as Interior Secretary with RM, Justice Potter Stewart. (1/29/1971)

      Runtime: 7:18

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-710115
      Remarks by President Nixon on arrival in St. Croix, VI. (1/29/1971)

      Runtime: 2:24

      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-4126
      "Today" Show AND "CBS Morning News". Donald Rumsfeld.
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:33:39
    • WHCA-4127
      Apollo 14 Preview with Walter Cronkite. Jack Anderson, investigative reporter, Beverly Sills, publisher Bennett Cerf, Ace Trucking Company.
      Daphne Productions and Roland & Jaffee Productions
      Runtime: 00:14:17
    • WHCA-4129
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      24. Reasoner: Indochina. Time Code Start: 51:20. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      25. Donaldson: Secretary of State Rogers and Indochina. Time Code Start: 52:10. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      26. Reasoner/Farmer: Green Berets training Cambodian troops in South Vietnam; 12 weeks training equivalent to United States Gis before sent to Vietnam. Time Code Start: 54:16. Keywords: Army, Special Forces, military, boot camp, education, teaching combat techiques,. Network: ABC.

      27. Reasoner/Jarriel: Budget (Shultz). Time Code Start: 56:07. Keywords: reports, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, payments. Network: ABC.
    • WHCA-4130
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 0:30

      1. Reasoner: Commentary on Indochina. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: investigations, reports, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      2. Brinkley: Economy; President Nixon sends Congress 1972 budget, Pentagon increased, "Great Society" programs money killed. Time Code Start: 01:53. Keywords: economy, economics, debt, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      3. Brinkley: Cambodia and Secretary of State Rogers says air power in Cambodia won't lead to another land war. Time Code Start: 07:11. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, speeches, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      4. Kalb: Secretary of State on air power. Time Code Start: 09:25. Keywords: cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

      5. Mudd/Schorr: Economy; President Nixon-unveils "full employment" budget, optimistic expectations for employment and inflation; House Appropriations Committee George Mahon critical of budget; Senator William Proxmire praises. Time Code Start: 12:54. Keywords: economy, economics, debt, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, unemployment,. Network: CBS.

      6. Mudd: Senator Ted Kennedy KENNEDY jokes about losing vote for Democrat Whip. Time Code Start: 16:50. Keywords: Senate, leaders, elections, candidates, defeats. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)